Fresh food consultancy firm Nielsen Perishables Group believes Latin America can offer a 'unique opportunity' for the fresh produce industry, as consumers' desire for convenient and healthy eating undergoes faster growth than in many other parts of the world. 

The U.S.-based company's CEO Jonna Parker is due to speak at next week's Produce Marketing Association's (PMA) Fresh Connections: Mexico event, to be held in Querétaro on May 6 and 7.

The event will bring together professionals from across the fruit and vegetable supply chain, offering networking opportunities, educational sessions, and presentations on local and global consumption trends.

"There's a tremendous amount of demand and opportunity in the produce industry in Mexico and Latin America," Parker told www.freshfruitportal.com.

"While there has been this changeover in modern trade and purchase locations, both modern and traditional classes of trade in Latin America are really influencing and benefiting from the fact that more Mexicans and Latin Americans are looking for fresh fruits and vegetables.

"In my session [at PMA Fresh Connections: Mexico] I will be showcasing some of the important trends and stats, and what Mexican and Latin American consumers are looking for - the key themes in that being health and wellness, and how Latin Americans are actually more engaged than many North Americans in weight management and the desire to eat more natural, fresh foods."

She added produce suppliers, retailers and merchandisers could really embrace these growing trends in the region but often didn't as they get bogged down with the challenges.

"At the end of the day, we're what consumers want and therefore we do have a tremendous amount of opportunity," Parker said.

"There really isn't a part of the world, especially with the younger consumers, where those big macro trends like health and wellness are not top of mind.

"I think what's really unique about the Latin American consumer is the weight management aspect of it and the desire to eat naturally and more healthfully, but we think the reality is that the market place hasn't really developed as well as Europe, the U.S. or Canada with really offering that product and really exemplifying it to the consumer. And so they want it, but they're not always finding it."

Parker also mentioned Latin Americans had a huge desire for new products, brands and varieties that were familiar to them, saying they 'outpace other parts of the globe in that engagement'.

"So there's an opportunity to embrace this - consumers want that, but they don't really feel that the retailers are giving them that," she said.

Speaking about PMA Fresh Connections: Mexico itself and what she hoped to achieve there, Parker explained how for a service provider the dialogue was one of the most interesting aspects.

"We're in a position at Nielsen where we're asked to comment a lot, and we certainly see a lot of data, but to hear what the industry is thinking about, how they're talking with each other, in the different regions of the world is really beneficial with us when we go back and meet with individual retailers and suppliers," she said.

"It's that kind of chatter and an event like this that becomes the most beneficial.

"Certainly of course for us it's important to be part of that conversation and to provide a baseline of trends and information, as that way the conversations are based in fact."

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