8 Food Trends for 2026 You’ll Want to Try, According to Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market has revealed their top food trends for 2026—and we’re looking forward to trying all of them. Compiled by the retailer's Trends Council, a collective of Whole Foods Market team members ranging from foragers and buyers to culinary experts, the annual trends predictions report combines “deep expertise and boots-on-the-ground discovery—at farmers markets, industry trade shows, local restaurants, and more,” says  Cathy Strange, ambassador of food culture for Whole Foods Market and member of the Trends Council. The experts noted how quickly ideas evolve from emerging concepts to everyday favorites—and how quickly social media trends become a reality in the store. Here are eight tasty trends to look out for when you’re grocery shopping.

Tallow

Once a staple in cooking, tallow is rendered animal fat, most often beef, and it’s making a big comeback. Chefs love it for its high smoke point and rich flavor, whether cooking burgers or fries, or roasting vegetables. It’s also popular with consumers seeking oil alternatives. Tallow can be used for both cooking and baking—it was once traditional in pie dough.

Fiber

The Whole Foods Trends Council agrees with nutrition experts that fiber deserves more attention. While we all seem to be obsessed with protein, fiber is actually key to gut health, holistic digestive wellness, and natural ways to feel fuller longer. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are key ways to get more fiber, but food brands are also launching fiber-forward products like pastas, breads, crackers, and bars. Look out for cassava and chicory as ingredients in more prebiotic beverages and konjac in plant-based, ready-to-eat meals. And oats star in many up-and-coming products.

Vinegar

Vinegar often gets overlooked, but not in 2026 when it will have a renaissance. Whole Foods Trends Council says we’ll be seeing vinegar tonics to sip, crushed fruit–infused varieties, and raw, unfiltered "living" versions. Vinegar is a great way to add depth and complexity to your cooking while also delivering probiotic-like benefits. It’s most definitely not just for salad dressing! It even stars in drinks, from traditional shrubs and mocktails to craft cocktails 

Freezer Fine Dining

You’ll be stocking your freezer with the new wave of frozen meals, appetizers, and sides. Brands recognize that home cooks appreciate their freezer for convenience, and they are realizing that they want high-quality ingredients, globally inspired flavors, and time-saving hacks. Frozen options are perfect for home cooks who want a night off from making dinner or to try flavors they haven’t cooked with before. Think frozen arancini, pupusas, and other chef-inspired favorites.

Sweet, But Make It Mindful 

Sugar is back on trend as consumers seek out products that are subtly sweetened with real cane sugar over alternative sources. They are also looking for products simply sweetened with whole fruit, honey, or maple syrup. Jam, chocolate, and gummy brands are increasingly incorporating real fruit into their products, rather than relying on high amounts of sugar for flavor and texture. Also, look out for treats made with peanut butter and dates for richness and sweetness, whether that’s in a store or on TikTok.

Instant Reimagined

Everyone wants everything fast, but for a long time, "instant" foods have gotten a bad wrap. They were all about convenience, not about flavor or quality. Not anymore. Now consumers can find innovative and better-for-you instant options to mix in the kitchen at work or enjoy on long plane rides. From premium pour-over lattes to trendy meals in a cup, and shelf-stable meal solutions, all are ready in seconds and easy to prepare.

Kitchen Couture

This food trend may be a result of so many kitchens with open shelving. Dubbed “dopamine décor,” the feel-good design concept, which is about creating vibrant home spaces that are emotionally uplifting, is now venturing onto kitchen counters. More brands are using eye-catching artwork with bright, bold colors and designs that can enhance any countertop or kitchen shelf—no reason to hide these ingredients behind cupboard doors or decant them for dinner parties. They are little luxuries you’ll want to leave out and admire. They’re also an easy way to treat yourself to something both beautiful and delicious.

Food From Women Farmers

With multigenerational farms dwindling and fewer young people choosing careers in farming, the Whole Foods Trends Council is celebrating changemakers in the industry, and they’re not alone. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. Organizations like the National Young Farmers Coalition offer funding opportunities for young farmers of all backgrounds. Brands are taking part, too. Lotus Foods provides support to women on the farms they source from by offering premium wages and funding improvements in their local communities. Kvarøy Arctic, on the other hand, has an international scholarship and internship program specifically designed for women, focusing on aquaculture. True Moringa supports women tree crop farmers in Ghana, allotting them a plot of land and providing training and access to irrigation, organic certification, childcare, health insurance, and more.