Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., the agricultural cooperative owned by around 700 farmer families, recently highlighted how its cranberry seeds can add plant-based nutrition, bright color and great texture to a wide variety of food and beverage applications. As the only red seed available on the market, cranberry seeds can be used to help manufacturers enhance their sustainability or zero-waste efforts.
Today’s consumers are seeking foods that offer functional ingredients providing better-for-you (BFY) nutrition. According to the 2024 IFIC Food & Health Survey, 64% of consumers try to consume fiber, the second most important ingredient after protein (71%)—and the majority (92%) want to get their fiber from food rather than supplements. Beyond fiber and protein, consumers value foods and beverages that deliver affordable nutrition with benefits. The IFIC survey found that the top five benefits consumers want from foods and beverages are: energy (34%), health aging (40%), weight loss/management (37%), digestive health (36%) and heart health (30%).
As a nutrition-dense food ingredient created by upcycling a by-product of cranberry production, cranberry seeds deliver on all fronts. The seeds are a vibrant red shade and naturally crunchy, enhancing products’ sensory appeal. Beyond color and texture, the seeds are a nutritional powerhouse, delivering fiber (55g of total dietary fiber per 100 grams) for digestive health. Cranberry seeds offer far more fiber than chia, hemp or flax seeds while being much lower in fat.
“Cranberry seeds work well in a wide variety of applications, from baked goods and snacks to beverages and confections,” said Charles Morrill, Sr. Research Chef, Ocean Spray® Ingredients. “Crunch is the texture of the moment, and cranberry seeds deliver a delightful crispy experience and bright red color perfect for baked goods and snacks. They are also a great fit for brands wanting to deliver a simplified label because they provide 100% natural color and are minimally processed. It’s been exciting to explore how cranberry seeds can be incorporated functionally in bakery products, snacks bars, granolas, smoothies and confections to take advantage of their fiber and health benefits. We’ve developed a range of recipes designed to showcase how easy it is to incorporate cranberry seeds into formulations and the nutritional rewards they offer.”
Ocean Spray’s culinary team highlighted trends and applications within several segments poised to harness the nutritional power of cranberry seeds including:
Baking & Snack
Snacking has moved from a between-meals treat to an integral part of Americans’ food consumption. According to Mintel’s Better For You Snacking – US – 2024 report, 73% of Americans snack at least once a day. Additionally, 29% snack twice a day and 22% snack three times a day or more.
Meanwhile, bakery market trends show that there has been a 22% growth of new bakery launches with a digestive/gut health claim over the past year. Ingredients like fiber, vitamin D and probiotics are leading innovations in the bakery market, according to Innova Market Insights.
Nutritional bars are a great example of a product that crosses both the baking and snack categories and can leverage trends from both. According to Mintel’s Snack, Nutrition and Performance Bars – US – 2025, texture can evoke both indulgence and healthfulness and enhance the bar-eating experience. Nearly 70% of consumers state that texture influences their snack cravings, making it an essential factor to consider in innovation. While texture is strongly associated with indulgence, it is increasingly pivotal in conveying healthfulness.
Ocean Spray’s culinary team recently developed a cranberry cereal bar that incorporates cranberry seeds to boost the nutritional label’s fiber content, while providing a pop of bright red color that grabs the eye and adds to the bar’s visual appeal.
Dairy
Dairy products are perhaps the original functional food. Ancient techniques like fermenting are currently enjoying a boost in popularity, while the addition of omega-3 fatty acids and minerals is growing as a way to help manage consumers’ health concerns, according to Functional Dairy Products Market Trends – Health & Nutrition 2023-2033 by Future Market Insights, Inc. That same report found that the global functional dairy products market is set to keep growing in the coming decade at a CAGR of 4.3%.
Cranberry seeds deliver dairy application nutritional benefits in multiple ways. Ocean Spray developed fruit smoothie formulations that work with both dairy and dairy alternative milks, as well as frozen fruit popsicles that leverage the health halo of yogurt.
Confection
Indulgence is always a primary motivator for confectionery purchases, and Ocean Spray cranberry seeds help grab attention with vivid eye appeal and crunchy texture. Yet the growing obesity and health crisis in the U.S. is also driving increased opportunity for BFY candy treats.
Sustainability issues are of growing concern, particularly with products containing chocolate. According to the Sustainability: The 2024 Shopper Insights Report from Explorer Research, consumers want confectionery ingredients that are natural (31%), organic (27%) and ethically sourced (16%). Cranberry seeds from Ocean Spray are a natural by-product of cranberry processing, and can align well with a brand prioritizing zero waste and upcycling. Cranberry seeds stand out in chocolate bars, confectionery coatings and a variety of other applications.
“It’s hard to overstate the label appeal of cranberry seeds,” Morrill said. “Appearing as a single ingredient on the label—cranberry seeds—consumers instantly understand the whole food appeal. Add in all the nutritional and functional benefits, and how easy they are to incorporate into just about any food or beverage application, and cranberry seeds become an exciting new ingredient alternative.”
Cranberry seeds are available in 25-pound corrugated boxes with a poly liner and have a shelf life of two years when stored below 70 degrees.
Request a sample or learn more at www.oceanspray.com/ingredients.
Innovations in Food (& Beverage) Technology is a quarterly magazine distributed globally both in Print and Digital formats. www.innovationsfood.com. Twitter: @Innovfoodtech. Instagram: @innovationsinfoodtechnology. Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/terry-prior52
