In recent years, people's consumption structure and demand are constantly upgrading, and freeze-dried food, which is convenient and can effectively preserve the nutrients of food, is favored by more and more consumers. Globally, the market demand of freeze-dried food is strong. The Analysis Report of Market Demand and Investment Planning of Freeze-dried Food Industry in China by Qianzhan Industrial Research Institute shows that at present, the United States annually consumes 6 million tons of freeze-dried food, Japan 2 million tons, France 1.6 million tons. Countries such as Japan and South Korea import freeze-dried food worthing $50 billion annually from abroad. Data shows that in 2020, China's freeze-dried food growth rate exceeded that of the global freeze-dried food, presenting a strong development trend. Experts predict that freeze-dried food fits the future food consumption trend: green, convenient and healthy, and has become a new trend of food industry.

Freeze-drying technology penetrates into multiple fields

Freeze-dried food is short for vacuum freeze-dried food, also known as FD food. Through freeze-drying technology, the color, aroma, taste, shape and nutrients of the original fresh food can be maintained to the maximum extent. It is worth mentioning that due to low water activity, freeze-dried products can be stored for a long time at room temperature without adding preservatives, and the finished products are light in weight, which makes them easy to carry and transport. Vitamins, liver powder, fruits, vegetables, etc. can be freeze-dried to effectively retain their nutrients and taste. From the perspective of market development, freeze-drying technology almost covers most of the new convenience foods and is penetrating into more food fields.

The processing of freeze-dried fruits and vegetables is in the ascendant

Data shows that fruits are the largest segment of the global freeze-dried food market. Regionally, North America holds the largest share of the global freeze-dried food market, while South America and Asia Pacific are the fastest growing markets.

The development of freeze-drying technology in China is rapid. However, the lack of independent brands and the lack of basic research and investment in innovation have become the short board of freeze-dried food production in China.

Agriculture and freeze-dried food industry should interact positively

As a country with extremely rich resources of agricultural and sideline products, China urgently needs to improve the added value of products through deep processing. Freeze-drying technology undoubtedly provides a new way for realizing the added value of China's agricultural products. Freeze-dried food is mostly based on agricultural and sideline products, so vigorously developing it can help enhance the added value of China's agricultural and sideline products, and help farmers to increase their income.

Experts said that a large number of new technologies continue to be used in the food field, not only changing the external environment of the food industry, but also affecting the internal structure of the food industry. From the current point of view, China's freeze-dried food market is still in the blue ocean, but still need food enterprises joining the field to develop products and tap into consumer demand. Only if China's freeze-dried food industry seizes the opportunity to actively develop the domestic market and take the initiative to participate in international competition, it will be in a favorable position in the international market. At the same time, freeze-dried food enterprises should be based on the specific conditions of the domestic and international markets, constantly learn from the industry's advanced technology and experience, participate in international competition, and develop the domestic market, to shape the brand and image of domestic freeze-dried food.

On the basis of existing products, researching and promoting products which are suitable for the market and meet the requirements of consumers, leading consumer demand, to achieve a double harvest of products and benefits, is the long-term way of market development.

Source: China Food Newspaper

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