The ever-shifting patterns of what people love to ea0t make exploring food trends for 2024 a thrilling prospect. Thanks to imaginative culinary leanings and a sense of food-based fun, there’s no shortage of tempting tastes and intriguing elements to try in the new year.
Urban Farm Produce:
Addressing the issue of urban food deserts, growing ultra-urban farm produce as a food trend in 2024 will bring fresh foods to places where it’s needed the most.
With options for local community gardens, kitchen crops, and home-based hydroponics, there’s a world of novel growing methods to be explored — from rooftops to backyards to balconies. And every option provides critical access to healthy ingredients grown in responsible ways.
Climate-Conscious Foods:
Sustainability will continue as an element of many food trends in 2024, just as it was a key food trend of the past few years. The availability of ingredients farmed responsibly with lower-impact growing methods will expand the movement in important ways.
Creating an easier environment for continued cultivation, increasing interest in plant-forward dining will also carry forward the idea of careful cuisine. And the explosion of non-meat protein alternatives continuing into next year will highlight a desire for mindful options among the many food trends of 2024.
Pasture-Raised Meat and Eggs:
Following the pattern of many other food trends of 2024, those with the means to purchase pasture-raised meat and eggs may be interested in making the shift. The reason is multi-faceted: Environmentally-destructive factory farms have fallen out of public favor over the past several years, with more consumers looking to purchase meat and eggs from small, local farms where animals are raised ethically with plenty of space and natural diets.
Island Flavors:
A splash of tropical sunshine will add some much-needed joy to our eating habits this year! Look for a fusion of traditional and island ingredients to create a food trend in 2024. A rise in popular picks such as pineapple and passionfruit, as well as more adventurous options like coconut curry and Caribbean spices, will help turn simple dishes into unique experiences. And beverage flavors taking a turn toward the floral and fruity will help make the new year an escape to paradise.
Spicy Bakes:
Heating up traditional sweet bakes with chipotle, cayenne, and other hot spices will set food trends in 2024 on fire! You’ll see heated flavor favorites like Mexican hot chocolate, mango habanero, and chili raspberry popping up in the form of cakes, cookies, and pies. It’s an earthy element that brings a sense of gourmet theater to all sorts of baked goods.