As consumer interest in healthy dining options continues to rise, so does the presence of fruit on U.S. menus, and new research from Technomic shows blueberries – a fruit renowned for its nutritional profile – gaining major traction among the top 500 chain restaurants. Overall blueberry mentions on American menus have increased 97 percent since 2007 – a stronger growth rate than that of strawberries, raspberries or blackberries – with fresh blueberry mentions up more than 176 percent in the same time period1.
Contributing to this growth is a combination of factors including changing consumer preferences and an evolution in the way foodservice professionals view blueberries. The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) works to influence both.
“Today’s consumers see blueberries as one of the little choices they can make in pursuit of a healthy lifestyle, and savvy restaurants are picking up on that,” said Mark Villata, executive director for the USHBC. “Our research shows that the health halo affiliated with blueberries extends all the way to dining establishments that feature them – so, restaurants looking to capture consumers’ interests should consider adding more blueberry options to their menus.”
Not just for muffins
The chain restaurants surveyed are using blueberries in more different types of dishes than ever before, with increased usage apparent across all restaurant segments and meal parts1. Key areas of growth include:

- Non-alcoholic beverages, including smoothies – incidence of blueberry mentions up 93 percent since 2007
- Entrees, including salads – incidence of blueberry mentions up 66 percent since 2007
- Dessert dishes – incidence of blueberry mentions up 45 percent since 2007
- Menu incidence of blueberry mentions in smoothies increased 60 percent since 20071
- 54 percent of consumers overall3 and 63 percent of 18-24 year olds say they find blueberry an appealing smoothie flavor4
- 51 percent say they eat snacks at least twice a day, with 58 percent citing fresh fruit as an occasional choice5
- And, while nearly half of college students (41 percent) consider fruit their #1 choice for snacking (more than chips/pretzels, candy, cookies or cereal)6, the numbers indicate they may be in search of more options: only 11 percent of 18-24 year olds currently eat fresh fruit as a snack away from home7