# Tomato-Based Jerky Snacks Bella Sun Luci's Alternative to Jerky is Prepared with Tomatoes By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2019-12-11 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alternative-to-jerky References: [foodbusinessnews.net](https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/15035-bella-sun-luci-offers-tomato-based-twist-on-jerky) & [bellasunluci](https://bellasunluci.com/products/) [Bella Sun Luci](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sauce-starters) offers a variety of tomato-based products that are available in the form of oils, sauces and pesto, as well as a [plant-based alternative to jerky](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-original-butcher-stick). The vegan-friendly Bella Sun Luci Plant-Based Tomato Jerky contains 80 calories per serving and is offered in varieties like Sriracha and Hickory Smoked. According to Mary Mooney, owner of the sun-dried tomato processor Mooney Farms that offers the Bella Sun Luci line, "The vegan population is growing and with it, we are bringing forward-thinking foods that appeal to both vegans and non-vegans alike. We believe bringing sun-dried tomatoes to the snack market in this new and innovative plant-based jerky marks the start of a health trend that’s here to stay." Knowing that consumers are seeking [meatless alternatives to jerky](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegan-salami-sticks), brands are developing dried strips with everything from watermelon and bananas to mushrooms, eggplants and coconut. Image Credit: Mooney Farms ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.2/10 - Popularity: 43% | Activity: 45% | Freshness: 9% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Meatless Jerky Alternatives:** Creating jerky-like snacks using alternative ingredients like tomatoes, watermelon, bananas, mushrooms, eggplants, and coconut presents an opportunity for disruption in the meatless jerky market. - **Plant-based Snack Market:** The rise of plant-based diets and the increasing demand for vegan-friendly snacks highlights the need for innovative plant-based snacks, such as the Bella Sun Luci Plant-Based Tomato Jerky. - **Sun-dried Tomato Snacks:** Introducing sun-dried tomatoes as a snack option offers a unique twist to the snack market and opens doors for further innovation in using sun-dried tomatoes in alternative snacks. ### Where This Applies - **Vegetarian Food Industry:** Creating meatless jerky alternatives and plant-based snack options aligns with the growing demand for vegetarian-friendly food products and offers opportunities for disruptive innovation in this industry. - **Snack Food Industry:** The development of novel and unique jerky-like snacks, such as plant-based tomato jerky and alternative ingredient-based jerky, presents a disruptive opportunity in the snack food industry. - **Tomato Processing Industry:** The use of sun-dried tomatoes in snacks, like Bella Sun Luci's tomato jerky, creates a unique market for tomato processors and opens avenues for exploration in the tomato processing industry. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Beet Jerky Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beet-jerky.md) - [Vegan Mushroom Jerkys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eat-meati-jerky.md) - [Jackfruit Jerky Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jackfruit-jerky.md) - [Thai-Style Vegan Jerkies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bangkok-bites.md) - [Carrot Bacon Strips](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/carrot-bacon.md) - [Sweet Potato Jerky Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sweet-potato-jerky.md) - [Crispy Tomato-Based Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tomato-chips.md) - [Asian Plant-Based Jerky](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/unlimeat-jerky.md) - [Plant-Powered Dog Jerky Treats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dog-jerky.md)