Specialty Fruit Coatings Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Lipids [Waxes, Acylglycerol, Fatty Acids] Hydrocolloids [Protein, Polysaccharides] Composites) and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

The increasing concern for food nutrition and safety among the buyers and growers coupled with the increase in awareness about health and wellness has led to the demand in organic fruits along with healthy preservation techniques. Moreover, the increasing post-harvest losses of fruits due to their biologically active nature to carry out respiration and ripening even after harvesting is predicted to drive the global demand for specialty fruit coatings to avoid or slow down the rate of post-harvest losses.

The prominent players operating in the market are embarking upon the launch of new water-based edible fruit coatings from renewable sources such as lipid, proteins, and polysaccharides. Edible specialty fruit coatings can function as barriers to, gases, solutes and water vapor and also as carriers of many functional ingredients, such as antioxidant antimicrobial agents. Therefore, edible fruit coatings can help to enhance quality and extend shelf life of fresh and minimally processed fruits.

Most fruits have a waxy layer on the surface which is called as cuticle. This waxy layer usually has a low absorbency to water vapor. The application of an external coating can improve this natural barrier or replace it in cases where this layer has been removed or vanish during postharvest handling or processing. Specialty fruit coatings offer a partial barrier to gas and moisture exchange, increase the mechanical handling property by maintaing structural integrity and retain volatile flavor compounds. These above-mentioned factors are predicted to drive the global market of specialty fruit coatings. Specialty fruit coatings are used to create a controlled or modified atmosphere inside the fruits that can delay ripening in a manner similar to the more costly controlled or modified atmosphere storage. Furthermore, the increased purchasing power and health consciousness among buyers along with the diminished food preparation times have mutually increased the demand for minimally processed fruits. Minimal processed fruit has a reduced shelf life compared to whole fruits. Specialty fruit coatings offer a possible method of extending postharvest storage life for this type of commodity. The increasing demand for minimal processed fruit is predicted to drive the global market of specialty fruit coatings.  Besides, specialty fruit coating can also contain some additives such as antimicrobial and antioxidant agents. These can efficiently protect bacterial contamination which occurs on the surface fresh-cut fruit by retaining additives on the surface of the cut fruit where they are needed which can help to prevent diffusion into the tissue.

The undesirable effects of some specialty fruit coatings and increasing consumer inclination towards non-coated fruits are predicted to restrain the market growth in forthcoming years. For instance, lipid-based coatings provide an oily surface and unwanted organoleptic properties such as lipid rancidity and waxy taste to the fruit.

Key Players Covered:

The prominent players operating in the global specialty fruit coatings market are Cargill, Incorporated, Devro Plc., Mantrose-Haeuser Co., Inc, Koninklijke DSM N.V, Tate & Lyle PLC, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Ingredion Inc., Kerry Group PLC, Pace International, UPL Limited, and Others.

Lipid-based edible coatings have decent water vapor barrier properties due to their low polarity and these are excellent for preventing dehydration, and add brightness to the epidermis which are predicted to boost the utilization of lipid based edible fruit coatings. Wax-based coatings are widely used to coat various fruits due to their good adhesion property. Wax-based coatings are substantially more resistant to moisture transport than other coatings. Increasing commercial applications of wax coatings on citrus and apples where high glossing and shine surface are desired is predicted to drive the market of wax-based specialty fruit coatings. Furthermore, specialty protein fruit coatings have excellent aroma and oxygen barriers and offer strength and structural integrity to the fruit. The use of milk protein based coatings could control enzymatic browning of fruit and whey protein has fatty acids that significantly improve moisture barrier properties. These aforementioned factors are predicted to boost the demand for protein-based specialty fruit coatings.

Regional Analysis:

North America is anticipated to hold a considerable share in the global market of specialty fruit coatings. The well-established food processing sector and the presence of prominent market players such as Cargill, Inc., Ingredion Inc., and others within the region are predicted to drive the North America specialty fruit coatings market. The increasing demand for minimally processed fruits is predicted to leverage the sale of specialty fruit coating to prevent the post-harvest losses.

Asia Pacific is predicted to witness significant growth in the global specialty fruit coatings market. The increasing cultivation of fruits within the region which are primarily exported to the various developed regions are predicted to boost the application of specialty fruit coatings to maintain the physical characteristics of the fruits.  For instance, According to Agricultural & Processed Food Products Exports Development Authority of India (APEDA), India exported approximately 16 million tons of fresh fruits worldwide in the year 2018-19.

Segmentation

Key Industry Developments:

• In September 2019, JBT announced the launch of Sta-Fresh 2850, a new coating for organic fruits. The product is claimed to offer superior shine and moisture-loss control than most other fruit coatings. The product is approved for use United States.


• In October 2018, Pace International has introduced its new high-shine edible coating. The product is widely available under the name PrimaFresh 606 GL.