Trends are always fun to follow. Even if you're not into the latest and greatest, it's interesting to see how our culture evolves year after year. Whether it's fashion, cars, entertainment, technology or whatever else you're into, opinions and tastes come and go.

For 2015, there are several trends hitting the market that we may not have seen coming even a year ago. From larger smartphone screens to tinier houses, trends tell a tale of taste cycles and niche fulfillment that is often hard to predict.

In this article, I wanted to take a look at five of my own predictions for 2015 in regards to the food system in Chattanooga. We've already been enjoying a strong push toward a more sustainable and natural food market here in the Scenic City, so where will that take us in the new year?

Native plants will be celebrated.

One of the main factors determining 2015's food trends will be prices. We've already seen the price of food skyrocket in 2014, but the continuation of that will push people to restructure the way they eat and consider cheaper alternatives. One way to do this, while also boosting nutrition, is to eat food that grows naturally in the Chattanooga region.

Back in September, I wrote an article spotlighting 11 edible weeds that grow in our area. While it wasn't a complete list (we really live in a great area for native plants!), it's a nice starting point to discover the most popular edible weeds. I think that the appreciation of these types of plants will only expand, and more people will opt to cook their dandelions instead of spray them with herbicides.

We'll see more GMO regulations.

I'm always happy to see when people are aware of the evils of genetically modified organisms, but 2014 really saw a hyper-awareness that may go even further. Our food system is smothered in GMOs, and it's almost impossible to find anything corn- or soy-related that hasn't been infiltrated by Monsanto, but our country really lacks the regulations that most other developed nations enjoy when it comes to warning their citizens about the dangers of these products.
As long as we, the people, keep standing up against GMO farm practices, the government will eventually listen. And if we stop buying GMO products altogether, the Monsantos of the world will not have the funds to continue "campaign contributions" that essentially stop GMO labeling measures in their tracks. It worked against tobacco companies; it can work here.

There will be a refinement of farmers markets.

Thanks to some really passionate Chattanoogans, there was an enormous boom in farmers markets in Chattanooga in 2014. But at the same time that literally dozens were opening up in the region, a handful shut down. This is a normal process when something becomes the next big thing, but I really think that the markets that stick around will be bigger and better than ever before in 2015. And I certainly think that more will continue to open in the new year as demand for local farm-raised food continues to increase.

Locavorism will reach new heights.

Chattanooga really has a wonderful support system for local food that many comparably sized cities don't enjoy. Between the aforementioned farmers markets and the support of restaurants like 1885 Grill, The Farmer's Daughter, St. John's and even Lupi's Pizza, the demand for local food is strong.

I really think that that sense of pride in what's been grown in our immediate area will continue to rise in 2015, as some will even replace previous food trends with an "extreme locavorism" that challenges you to only eat foods grown within 100 miles of the city. It's a difficult challenge, but not impossible—although coffee drinkers and chocolate lovers might disagree.