**2. Global trends of fresh cut produce**

Healthy and nutritious foods are of critical importance among the young population of the country. Vegetables and fruits are imported round the year to meet the demands of the country. With increased dining away from home, fresh cut products are taking an ever-increasing role because of time saving in cooking of other food materials. Fresh-cut vegetable and fruits are the prime rapid budding food categories in United States superstores. The requirement of fresh cut commodities is also increasing being a healthier preference over the fast food sectors. The freshcut manufacturing industries are flourishing in various European nations with the United Kingdom, France, and Italy as share pioneers. In the Eastern nations, Europe is among the nations with highest advancement in fresh cut industries. In the above stated developed countries, fresh cut vegetables and fruits are developed at the industrial scale but in India and other developing countries, the production is yet at a small scale. Now with the rising awareness and concern in this category of commodities, there is a massive opportunity of fresh cut market in the emerging countries [7]. Small scale industry also plays a significant share in supplying packages for fresh cut commodities to the developing countries as per the demand by the consumers. Small scale businesses and small vendors are the fundamental distributors of fresh

cut commodities in most emerging nations. In 2006, 27% of freshcut produce in the United States was sold in the food service sector, while 73% was sold in retail. Freshcut produce sales increased in value from US\$3.3 billion in 1999 to US\$15.5 billion in 2007 [8]. Fresh cut packed salads and vegetables showed a growth trend in 2008, while sales in fresh cut fruits declined. Fresh cut organic salads are now being mainstreamed across the United States and feeding consumer desire for healthy food. Fresh cut commodities are widely available in restaurants and retail outlets in US. Fresh cut fruits and vegetables are sold in parts of the Asian countries as well. Fresh cut vegetables are in greater demand as compared to fresh cut fruits in Thailand [9]. With this growing demand of fresh cut commodities, Thailand is likely to show a continued growth trend. Recently in India, German Food Company which deals with fresh cut fruits and vegetables has formed a joint venture with exotic fruits importer IG interventions and launched the sliced fruits packs. In 2017, the fresh cut and readyto-eat product trend has grown by 4% in both volume and value compared to 2016 industrial brand have increased their share by 8% despite their market share already being 40%,"explains AIIPA fresh-cut president [10].
