Trader Joe's Most Searched For Food Item Might Surprise You

There's no denying it: people love Trader Joe's. In early 2019, Fox Business reported that the grocery store was named the number one grocery store chain for US shoppers for the second year in a row. Trader Joe's is largely known for their wide and affordable selection of items, particularly those from their in-house brand. Of all the items Trader Joe's sells, which ones are searched for more frequently? The answer may surprise you.

In February 2020, the workplace software company WorkWise took a look at the Trader Joe's items people in every state have been Google searching for the prior year. Every state has their own product preference, of course, but one produce item kept taking the number one spot. Indeed, Brussels sprouts were the most searched-for Trader Joe's item in 16 states last year, making the vegetable the most searched-for item overall.

According to WorkWise, the other frequently searched-for Trader Joe's items were the Everything But the Bagel seasoning, the Sublime Ice Cream Sandwich, avocados, and plantain chips. WorkWise notes that healthier foods like vegetables seem to be more sought-after these days, as their findings the year prior included more frozen foods, sauces, and desserts.

Trader Joe's isn't the only place where people are searching for Brussels sprouts. The small, green, cruciferous vegetable has been enjoying a resurgence for several years now. In 2018, Vegetable Growers News reported a "dramatic" increase in the vegetable's popularity, with demand for fresh Brussels sprouts surpassing that of frozen. Brussels sprouts have become so popular that growers have been struggling to keep up with demand, per Vegetable Growers News.

The fact that Brussels sprouts are healthy (and delicious, when handled correctly) isn't the only reason for its rise in popularity. According to NPR, Brussels sprouts actually taste better now than they used to, thanks to some crafty Dutch plant breeders. The reason the sprouts's former reputation involved bad smells and children refusing to eat them is, per NPR, due to their unmistakably bitter taste.

NPR explains that in the '90s, a Dutch scientist discovered the component responsible for the vegetable's bitterness. That scientist collaborated with Brussels sprout seed sellers to breed a variety of sprout that was consistently tasty, not bitter. Clearly, it worked.