Fresh produce has long been considered one of online grocery’s toughest categories. Concerns about freshness, damage and letting someone else select fruits and vegetables have all presented barriers to purchase.
Consumer research from Fusion, a business-to-business marketing agency serving the fresh produce and grocery retail industries, suggests produce may be playing a growing role in shoppers’ decision to buy groceries online, according to the firm.
In Fusion’s Online Produce Shopping study, 62% of online grocery shoppers say fresh produce is a leading reason they shop for groceries online, a shift from produce’s reputation as one of e-commerce’s toughest categories.
Online Grocery Continues to Grow
The shift comes as online grocery takes a larger role in how consumers shop. U.S. online grocery sales grew 21.5% year over year in July 2026, according to Brick Meets Click. E-grocery sales are expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.9% through 2029, when online is expected to account for 17% of U.S. grocery sales.
As the channel grows, Fusion’s research found that 97% of online grocery shoppers usually include fresh produce in their orders, a sign that produce has moved from an occasional add-on to a mainstay of the digital cart.
Confidence Is Growing
Trust has traditionally been one of the biggest barriers to purchasing fresh produce online. Those concerns have not disappeared, but confidence appears to be improving.
The study found that confidence in buying fresh produce online has increased for 65% of respondents. Satisfaction is also high, with 92% saying they are mostly or completely satisfied with the fresh produce they receive in their online orders.
“Shoppers are telling us they no longer see fresh produce as a liability online, and retailers who invest in packaging and transparency are the ones earning that trust,” says Matt Schraut, vice president of analytics and client services for Fusion.
Convenience helps explain the appeal, with 56% saying buying fresh produce online saves them time and 54% finding it more convenient than shopping in-store.
The experience is also increasingly mobile. More than 90% of respondents said they place their online grocery orders using their phones.
That mobile-first behavior has put greater importance on strong product imagery, clear descriptions, freshness information and easy-to-understand substitution options that help shoppers evaluate quality without seeing the product in person.
Packaging and Freshness Guarantees Matter
Getting shoppers to purchase produce online is only part of the equation. Maintaining confidence depends on the experience that follows.
Packaging emerged as the leading opportunity identified in Fusion’s research. Packaging that keeps produce fresh longer would increase confidence for 45% of respondents, while 43% pointed to packaging that protects fruits and vegetables from bruising or damage during delivery.
Quality assurances can provide another layer of confidence. A clear freshness guarantee or refund policy would make 42% of respondents more confident purchasing fresh produce online.
For the produce industry, these findings point to tangible opportunities to strengthen the online experience through packaging designed for delivery, clear quality guarantees and digital merchandising that helps shoppers evaluate products without seeing them in person.
Retail Investment Reinforces the Shift
Retailers are investing heavily in fresh grocery delivery. Amazon, for example, has expanded same-day delivery of fresh groceries to more than 2,300 U.S. cities and towns. In markets where the service is available, perishables now account for nine of the 10 most-ordered same-day delivery items, with bananas, avocados and blueberries among the most popular.
What It Means for Produce
As more grocery trips move between physical and digital channels, produce brands, commodity boards and retailers need to consider how shoppers evaluate freshness, quality and value when they cannot see or touch the product.
Fresh produce helped define the traditional grocery perimeter. As online grocery continues to grow, the industry has an opportunity to make produce just as important to the digital grocery experience.
