Tropical fruit category rebounds after recession

Excerpts from an article by Abraham Mahshie in The Packer published 4/26/10

Scaled back tropical fruit sections are starting to expand again, according to category experts who said they believe the country's climb out of recession will lift sales.

Supermarkets are using their tropicals section to differentiate themselves from competitors.

Mary Ostlund, marketing director for Brooks Tropicals, Homestead, Fla., credits the growth of the sector to American's incasing helath consciousness and culinary curiousity.

"The American palate has become extremely adventuresome, and the produce section has been a fantastic opportunity to capitalize on that," she said, noting the health benefits of tropicals like green-skin avocados and papayas.