The Increasing Preference for the Frozen Fruit Market

The Frozen Fruit market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.81% to reach a market size worth US$7.163 billion by 2029. This market was valued at US$4.517 billion in 2022.

Frozen fruits are sugar-free alternatives that can be mixed into smoothies, yogurt, and other dishes. They have a long shelf life, come in convenient portion sizes, and are pre-peeled and prepared. They are typically harvested at their peak ripeness and hold a significant portion of the processed food segment. Furthermore, several frozen products have more nutritional value than any other form of preservation and, in some cases, even higher nutritional values than fresh products, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Typically, no chemicals are used in their production. As a result, consumers looking for a healthy breakfast option or a healthy snack prefer frozen fruits.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, fruits such as pears and apples can be stored under controlled conditions for up to 12 months before being sold. Other fruits, on the other hand, cannot be stored for such a long time. As a result, the frozen fruit market is expected to expand in the coming years. Furthermore, they have a longer shelf life than fresh fruits, allowing retailers to plan time and resulting in fewer losses due to product deterioration or damage during transportation.

Furthermore, according to the Peruvian Association of Mango Producers and Exporters, Peru is the world's third largest exporter of mangoes. Fresh mango accounts for nearly 60 percent of exported mango, while frozen mango accounts for 20 percent of Peruvian tropical frozen fruit exports to Europe. Furthermore, according to the Aegean Exporters' Association, Turkey's fresh fruit and vegetable exports increased by 20 percent this year, from $777 million to $936 million. According to the same data source, the United States and European countries are the leading frozen fruit exporters.

The prevalence of consumer health awareness to decrease the sugar intake in the diet is further adding impetus to the frozen fruit market growth.

According to the International Diabetes Federation, there are 537 million people living with diabetes today, with 700 million expected to be diagnosed by 2024. As a result of the increasing prevalence of diabetes and other diseases, consumers have become more concerned about their diets, particularly their sugar intake. As a result, there are numerous sugar substitutes on the market, but not all of them provide the necessary vitamins and nutrients. Frozen fruits are unprocessed and contain almost all the essential nutrients, such as fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. They are picked at their ripest point and frozen to preserve nutrients without the addition of sugar or additives.

Frozen fruits can also be used as a sugar substitute in other industries. Tropical frozen fruits, for example, are commonly used in yogurts and other milk-based beverages in the dairy and ice cream industries. Similarly, tropical frozen fruits are used in the beverage industry to make juices and smoothies.

Several businesses have also increased their operations and investments in this market.

• In 2021 - Greenyard Frozen UK and Tesco entered into a partnership to provide consumers with a wide variety of frozen fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Greenyard has been supplying frozen produce to Tesco for over 35 years and is delighted to have been awarded a supply agreement for the entire range of frozen fruits, vegetables, and herbs. With around 25 premium quality frozen fruit stock-keeping units, Tesco will be able to offer its customers the widest frozen fruit portfolio.

• 2021 - Chilean soft fruit conglomerate Hortifrut merged its frozen berry export business with Alifrut, the country's largest processor and exporter of frozen fruits and vegetables. Hortifrut's global commercial platforms combined with Alifrut's industrial and commercial expertise as a multi-product frozen processor in the new company. The two companies stated that the agreement would promote the development and international growth of their main consumer markets, which include the United States, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.

• 2021 - Nature's Touch Frozen Foods, a supplier of frozen fruits and vegetables to Canada and the United States, invested US$40.3 million in Warren County in 2021. Nature's Touch built a 126,000-square-foot building.

• 2022 - Hortifrut announced the opening of a new distribution center in Ireland, as well as collaboration in India, to help the company expand its reach. This was done to participate directly in emerging consumer trends and to keep European and Asian expansions on track, where they anticipate the most future growth.

According to analysts, the European region is expected to occupy the dominant share of the market in the upcoming years. 

According to the European Association of Fruits and Vegetable Processors Organization, the industry accounts for an average of 6% of the total food processing industry in Europe, with frozen fruits accounting for a significant share.

Smoothies' growing popularity as a convenient and healthy sugar substitute option has influenced consumer preference for this market. As a result, they prefer frozen fruits, which has an impact on market growth in the European region. Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and other developing countries are the primary suppliers.

COVID-19 Insights

COVID-19 had a positive impact on the global frozen fruit market. Consumer preference for this market increased during this period due to the longer self-life and health benefits. Furthermore, according to the 2021 American Frozen Food Institute, sales of frozen fruit increased by nearly 30 percent during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, while sales of frozen vegetables increased by about 15 percent.

Frozen Fruit Market Scope:

Report Metric	Details
Market Size Value in 2022	US$4.517 billion
Market Size Value in 2029	US$7.163 billion
Growth Rate	CAGR of 6.81% from 2022 to 2029
Study Period	2019 to 2029
Historical Data	2019 to 2022
Base Year	2023
Forecast Period	2024 – 2029
Forecast Unit (Value)	USD Billion
Segments Covered	Product Form Source Distribution Channel Geography
Companies Covered	Val-Mex Frozen Foods, LLC Willamette Valley Fruit Company (Oregon Potato Company) Frozen Fruit Co. LLC De Marchi Dawtona Frozen
Regions Covered	North America, South America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific
Customization Scope	Free report customization with purchase