Apple ingredients often hold up better in the kitchen than raw apples that can brown or spoil, yet there is a lot of negativity surrounding processed foods. Consumers are increasingly savvy about what they eat, so using the real deal in processed apple ingredients will be more popular than passing off fake apple-flavored ingredients as apples.
U.K. fruit processor Fourayes has developed a processed apple product called Utterly Fruity Apple that is engineered to hold up better in harsh baking conditions where apples often fail, according to a company statement.
Utterly Fruity Apple, made from the Bramley apple, is put through a propriety process so it remains soft, moist and flavorful even after baking, according to Fourayes.
The product can be used in baking, ice cream, as a confection, and in preserves. The company also offers Utterly Fruity Apple as a fruit juice, either by itself or infused with other fruit flavors, such as blueberry and cherry.
Processed apple ingredients are a new trend, particularly in Europe and Latin America, where the demand for fruit with a long shelf life is high. According to Euromonitor, processed fruits and vegetables were worth over $52 billion globally last year, though the U.S. market lags due to increasing consumer demands for less processed food. According to a recent study, consumers tend to view processed foods as less healthy.
Still, Fourayes processes over 11,000 tons of Bramley apples each year to be used in products such as its new line.
Other companies are innovating in this space. Kashi has a Soft ‘N Chewy apple cobbler bar that contains real apple pieces. And Frupak has had processed foods using real granny smith apples for over 30 years. Frupak also sells its processed apple ingredients to foodservice industries and food manufacturers.
