Recognized by a signature rainbow umbrella and acting as a beacon for all those in search of a flavor experience like no other, el frutero, or the fruit vendor, can be spotted throughout my California locale touting a delicious combination of fresh produce and authentic Mexican seasonings, or especias mexicanas as they are referred to by Spanish speakers, that will make your taste buds tingle. Expertly covering the likes of mangos, pineapple, watermelon, cucumber, and many more with a spicy, savory combination of Tajín® Clásico, chamoy, salt, and freshly squeezed lime, each vendor knows how to elevate already delectable fruits and veggies to a whole new level, making each cart a place of wonder.
With a penchant for amping up flavor, this simple, yet effective, blend of spices and seasonings seen throughout the Mexican culinary tradition and perfected by each fruit vendor has made its way into the limelight, going from a regional delight to international plates. Splashed everywhere from the virtual world of social media to restaurant menus, these core Mexican flavors are making their mark on entrées, appetizers, desserts, and drinks—you name it, these spices can transform it.
As consumers chase this delicious combination of flavors, it creates an excellent opportunity to not only promote the unique offerings but drive produce sales as well.
Where traditional seasoning salt once stood, Tajín has now stepped in to grow the space. Consisting of a mouthwatering blend of dried chile peppers, dehydrated lime, and sea salt, together the unassuming ingredients form a powerhouse seasoning that will make your lips pucker.
Tajín is the perfect product to display in any produce section, as it creates endless creative opportunities for consumers to add a little spice to their fresh snacks. The distinctive blend is not only delicious sprinkled over fresh fruits and vegetables to add extra zest, but it can be used as a rub to add a kick of flavor to any protein or as a garnish for a mixed drink to give it extra flair. Just like the color black, Tajín goes with everything, which is why this spice is easy to promote across produce aisles and will practically sell itself when placed alongside fresh produce.
Seamlessly complementing Tajín, chamoy is the glue that holds everything together. A unique combination of pickled apricots, mangos, or plums; chiles; and lime juice, the mixture will leave palates rejoicing when placed on fresh fruit. The deliciousness doesn’t stop there, though. Chamoy can be used as a dipping sauce for almost anything from veggies to candy, but like each fruit vendor, our industry knows that fresh produce is always the best option! Since the main ingredients for chamoy are found in the fresh produce aisle, what better way to get shoppers to fill their baskets than by encouraging them to make their own sauce?
Bring the expertise of el frutero to your produce section by offering consumers the perfect combination of Mexican seasonings and spices through cross-promotions and displays at their fingertips. At a time when unnecessary traveling is out of the cards, give your shoppers’ taste buds a vacation south of the border.
