The following information was provided by the Buffalo County Extension Office:

Trends can be regional, cultural and socio-economical. Areas most affected by the economic turndown will create trends based on food costs and supply.

One trend is back to basic home cooking. Recipes using six or less ingredients, with detailed information on how to prepare the ingredients using basic cooking techniques. How to store food properly so less is thrown out.

Interest in nutritional ingredients like antioxidant potent spices – cumin, cinnamon and turmeric. Foods fortified with pre- and pro-biotics and omega-3 rich foods like flax.

Superfruits are a trend that will continue. Pomegranate juice is being added to a number of beverages.

Bold, intense, and flavorful will continue to  be the way people want their food. Flavor influences will continue to come from Hispanic and Asian cuisines as well as South American and Spanish flavors. The flavors created by “spices with benefits” such as cumin, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, chilies, curry, cardamom and tea will provide flavor without calories to foods in 2009.