State of the Edibles 2015

Get growing

Each year, we dedicate an entire section of the magazine to covering the continuously growing edibles market. Last year, 63 percent of respondents in our State of the Industry survey indicated an increase in edibles sales. In our 2014 State of the Edibles report, we highlighted the importance of food demonstrations and teaching people how to use their plants in the kitchen. We found that educational opportunities, as well as retail areas designated to edibles, can be successful marketing initiatives.

This year, we searched for the latest and most unique trends in the market, ideas you could use in your garden center to attract both Baby Boomers and Millennials. Check out an interesting vegetable gardening technique that utilizes straw bales on page 24, read up on the 2015 produce market trends that cover everything from kosher foods to cannabis on page 32, and consider adding a tiny cucumber to your edibles lineup to attract foodies on page 33.

This month's cover features includes the following:

• Eye-catching edibles
• ‘Straw Bale Gardens Complete’
• Superfoods power up
• Top 5 food trends to watch
• Mexican sour gherkin
• Tomato crazy