Over the course of two weeks, the webinars series successfully gathered over 1500 industry professionals from 75 different countries. The webinars, which were led by industry experts highlighted how the nut and dried fruit industry was affected by COVID-19 and provided participants with an industry outlook for the short-term and long-term as the world begins to deescalate confinement measures and return to a state of normalcy.
Aside from the effects of COVID-19, one theme that was highlighted in almost every webinar was the consumer shift towards plant-based protein and in general a healthier diet. This continuing change in consumer behavior will provide the nut and dried fruit industry the opportunity to strengthen their position in the minds of health-conscious buyers and ultimately lead to the increased consumption of nuts and dried fruits.
Moreover, dialogue between industry experts showed that as the industry moves forward past COVID-19, one key factor for nuts and dried fruits will be the ability to find new consumption channels via innovation and product development. However, innovation and product development were not only discussed in regards to new products altogether; the growing global interest in organic products also prompted interesting debates, and organic is viewed as another trending preference among consumers. All-in-all, the webinars demonstrated that there are ample opportunities for the entire industry to grow and increase demand.
Regarding the supply side of the industry, the webinar discussions revealed that the global tree nut crop is forecasted to experience another annual increase with a 16% rise compared to the previous season. This growth is mainly concentrated in pine nuts, pistachios, almonds, and pecans, while walnuts, cashews, macadamias, hazelnuts, and Brazil nuts are projected to be at a similar level to the prior season. The forecast for peanuts also saw an increase and the crop size for dried fruits is estimated to be roughly the same as in 2019/20.
If you were unable to watch the webinars live, a recording and downloadable presentation of each webinar can be found on the INC TV Channel. In conclusion, the INC would like to thank the chairs, panelists, and participants, who all made the INC Webinar Series possible and continue to support the nut and dried fruit industry.