Jill Dutton
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Produce and agriculture news, interviews, travel, 50+ travel, wellness, food, outdoors, train travel
Writer & magazine publisher with a focus on news, train travel, wellness, outdoors, liquor trends, 50+ travel, and local foods. muckrack.com/jilldutton
Articles by Jill Dutton
House Agriculture Committee Seat at Stake in Minnesota 2nd District Race
As the number of lawmakers with direct ties to production agriculture continues to shrink, who will step up to speak for rural America? Farm Journal is proud to present Ag Vote 2026: Who Speaks for America’s Farmers?, delivering in-depth reporting from now through Election Day. Tune in for LIVE election night coverage Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. Central on Farm Journal TV, Farm Journal Now, AgWeb.com and YouTube.
Elyse Lipman Named 2027 IFPA Board Chair, Calls on Produce Industry to Reclaim Its Story
The newly appointed International Fresh Produce Association chairwoman urged agricultural leaders at the Global Produce and Floral Show to unite behind strong advocacy and restore consumer trust to capture a $10 billion market opportunity. • October 20, 2026 12:42 PM Elyse Lipman took center stage at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show in Orlando, Fla., as the CEO of Lipman Family Farms and the newly named 2027 chairwoman of the IFPA board of directors.
How Behavioral Science Can Get Shoppers To Buy (and Eat) More Fresh Produce
Industry leaders at IFPA’s Global Produce and Floral Show revealed that overcoming flat fruit and vegetable consumption requires shifting away from clinical health messaging toward flavor-forward marketing, cultural rituals and frictionless convenience. • October 19, 2026 01:20 PM Shown from left are Eva Monterrosa, Sonya Constable, Brent Loken and Sophie Egan. (Photo: Jill Dutton) ORLANDO, Fla.
Frieda’s Shares Holiday Promotion Ideas at IFPA
Frieda’s Branded Produce, Legacy Farms and Cal-Fresco highlighted specialty produce solutions, multicultural holiday promotions and core vegetable programs during the IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show. • October 18, 2026 10:10 AM Lourdes Tuason, creative director for Frieda’s, at IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show. (Photo: Jill Dutton) ORLANDO, Fla.
The Packer — October 19, 2026
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Tech, Genetics, Precision: Wish Farms CEO Maps the Future
James Peterson discusses driving the century-old berry grower forward by pairing high-tech quality control and proprietary breeding with rigorous supply planning to protect margins against rising input costs. • October 15, 2026 03:34 PM James Peterson, CEO for Wish Farms (Photo: Jill Dutton) ORLANDO, Fla. — In an exclusive interview with The Packer during the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show on Oct.
What Shoppers Will Purchase Next in Produce and Floral
Industry leaders at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Fresh Produce & Floral Show in Orlando revealed how economic shifts, generational dynamics and evolving consumer trust are shaping the future of produce and floral purchasing. • October 14, 2026 02:41 PM Pictured: (L) Jonna Parker, vice president and team lead for Circana, and Rachel Blake, global insights manager for IFPA.
Why Black Garlic Is the 2027 Flavor of the Year
MorganMyers’ Food and Flavor Trends Report Reveals the Top 10 flavors expected to break out next year. • October 13, 2026 11:21 AM Food marketing agency MorganMyers named black garlic its 2027 Flavor of the Year. (Photo: arybickii, Adobe Stock) Garlic needs no introduction, but black garlic is now taking center stage.
5 Ways Fresh Produce Is the Engine Behind 2027 Food Trends
Fresh Thyme Market and Spins’ 2027 trend forecast features produce as the foundational engine of grocery retail, driven by consumer demand for cognitive health, convenience, global flavors and nutrient-dense whole foods. • October 12, 2026 02:20 PM Each year, Fresh Thyme Market releases its “Top 10 Trends” report, offering a look at what shoppers can expect to see in stores in the year ahead.
Culture, Convenience and Specialty Cuts: How these Changemakers Are Shaping Consumer Demand
By pairing value-added convenience, rapid viral trendspotting and generational ethnic merchandising, 2026 Packer 25 honorees Bobby Chacko, Robert Schueller and Robert Veilleux are redefining how produce departments capture consumer demand and drive basket size.
Behind the Fresh Counter: Driving Supply Chain Resilience, Foodservice Efficiency and Produce Advocacy
By combining operational consulting in the kitchen with targeted industry storytelling, 2026 Packer 25 honorees Ralph Salinas, Dez Forsythe and Ashley Sempowski are helping elevate the value of fresh produce across foodservice channels. • October 08, 2026 02:21 PM Across the commercial foodservice landscape, success relies on a tight alignment between back-of-house kitchen realities, supply chain flexibility and compelling industry messaging.
Helping Independent Grocers Claim Their Own AI Strategy
EveryAisle’s rebrand and expanded AI platform empowers independent grocers to personalize shopper interactions, drive fresh produce sales and protect critical first-party data against third-party marketplaces. • October 08, 2026 10:28 AM In addition to suggesting recipes, EveryAisle supports routine grocery replenishment by reminding shoppers about items they regularly purchase, including fresh produce staples.
Packer 25: Amanda Sains
Meet Amanda Sains, vice president of marketing for Joolies Dates, and one of the 2026 Packer 25 honorees. • October 05, 2026 09:22 AM (Farm Journal/The Packer) What is the single most urgent shift the produce industry must make today to ensure it remains sustainable and profitable in 2030 and beyond? “The produce industry needs to make fresh food easier to choose for the next generation of consumers.
Packer 25: Robert Schueller
Meet Robert Schueller, director of public relations for Melissa’s Produce, and one of the 2026 Packer 25 honorees. • October 05, 2026 09:17 AM (Farm Journal/The Packer) What is the single most urgent shift the produce industry must make today to ensure it remains sustainable and profitable in 2030 and beyond? “The quality of the food Melissa’s Produce sources begins at the field.
Packer 25: Ashley Sempowski
Meet Ashley Sempowski, manager, communications and PR for IFPA, and one of the 2026 Packer 25 honorees. • October 05, 2026 09:19 AM (Farm Journal/The Packer) What is the single most urgent shift the produce industry must make today to ensure it remains sustainable and profitable in 2030 and beyond? “The most urgent shift is recognizing that our future depends as much on connection as it does production.
Packer 25: Ralph Salinas
Meet Ralph Salinas, produce specialist for Sysco, and one of the 2026 Packer 25 honorees. • October 05, 2026 09:23 AM (Farm Journal/The Packer) What is the single most urgent shift the produce industry must make today to ensure it remains sustainable and profitable in 2030 and beyond? “The most urgent shift our industry needs to make is embracing technology and automation in the fields.
Packer 25: Bobby Chacko
Meet Bobby Chacko, CEO for Bonduelle Americas, and one of the 2026 Packer 25 honorees. • October 05, 2026 09:15 AM (Farm Journal/The Packer) What is the single most urgent shift the produce industry must make today to ensure it remains sustainable and profitable in 2030 and beyond? “We need to start treating consumer trust as an economic asset in collaboration with retailers.
Packer 25: Robert Veilleux
Meet Robert Veilleux, vice president of produce, floral operations for Heritage Grocers Group, and one of the 2026 Packer 25 honorees. • October 05, 2026 09:07 AM (Farm Journal/The Packer) What is the single most urgent shift the produce industry must make today to ensure it remains sustainable and profitable in 2030 and beyond?
Never Run Out of Avocados Again: Augmodo’s Smart Wearables Transform Produce Aisles
By replacing static employee name tags with privacy-first AI wearables, Augmodo eliminates inventory blind spots for grocers, ensuring store teams automatically catch low stock before shoppers ever encounter an empty display bin. • October 07, 2026 10:14 AM To fix the shelf gap problem, Augmodo is bringing spatial intelligence directly to workers through wearable technology via the Augmodo Smartbadge.
Why the Produce Aisle Appeals to the Intentional Consumer
As choice overload and noise drive shoppers toward intentional living, WGSN Food and Drink Director Claire Lancaster breaks down why fresh fruits and vegetables are uniquely positioned to win over 2029’s “Keepers” and “Restorers.” • October 05, 2026 12:32 PM Whole, fresh fruits and vegetables naturally embody what WGSN identifies as the rising “Intentional Consumer” mindsets.
The MILK Business Podcast
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Data Shows Summer Recalls Drove Leafy Greens Category Abandonment
An analysis of 147 million shopping trips during the summer 2026 cyclospora outbreak reveals that news coverage — rather than localized risk or price points — drove a sharp, persistent drop in leafy greens sales that price cuts failed to fix.
The Packer — October 5, 2026
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Closing the Food Desert Gap: How On-Demand SNAP Delivery Is Transforming Grocery Access and Household Budgets
DoorDash’s 2026 SNAP report reveals that expanding online SNAP/EBT delivery connects 98% of benefit recipients in food deserts to fresh groceries, helping millions stretch tight household budgets, save time and improve daily nutrition.
The New Rules of Produce: Why Multi-Dimensional Value Wins the Modern Cart
As consumers adapt to elevated shelf prices by “spending by exception,” NIQ’s Nicole Collida shares insights on how produce brands and grocers can capture basket share through multi-dimensional value and health-focused positioning. • September 29, 2026 12:27 PM NIQ data shows U.S. consumers’ plan to prioritize essential expenses like groceries and utilities while trimming discretionary spending such as dining out and apparel in 2027.
The Discount Grocery Boom: What Foot-Traffic Data Reveals About Aldi, Lidl and Trader Joe’s
Placer.ai foot-traffic data reveals that value grocers are capturing market share through distinct growth strategies, while shifting consumer behaviors are driving shoppers to cross-shop multiple banners to fulfill their fresh produce needs. • September 28, 2026 12:57 PM Data from Placer.ai shows that overall visits to Aldi grew between 1.3% and 6.4% year over year each month between January and August 2026.
Produce Brands and Retailers Target Holiday Basket Spend
From high-margin specialty items like tamale kits and exotic fruit boards to secondary walnut displays and aggressive fall price cuts, produce marketers and grocers are positioning fresh produce at the center of holiday entertaining.
Fresh Produce and the Climate Opportunity: Food Waste as a High-Return Investment
At Climate Week NYC, WRAP is demonstrating how collaborative Food Pacts and targeted interventions across retail supply chains and households transform perishable produce waste from a carbon burden into immediate financial savings.
Retailers Driven to Pursue Sustainability for Purpose and Performance
The Packer’s Sustainability Insights 2026 shows retailers are pursuing sustainability to drive business efficiency, boost margins and strengthen supply reliability rather than depend on consumer premiums. • September 23, 2026 03:04 PM Sustainability Insights 2026 finds that local produce is resonating like never before among sustainability-minded shoppers.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Mergers and Acquisitions in the Produce Industry Stay ahead of fresh produce market shifts with a look at the latest mergers, acquisitions and deals reshaping the industry and driving growth.
Are Consumers Financing Dinner? Inside the 30% Spike in BNPL Groceries
As growing numbers of Americans turn to short-term installment loans to offset persistent grocery inflation, forecasting strategist Marieke van der Poel explains how splitting food bills into micro-payments is altering consumer psychology, store inventory and the definition of everyday affordability. • September 22, 2026 03:56 PM While BNPL offers consumers immediate flexibility at checkout, it creates a hidden economic ripple effect across the store.
Farm Bill SNAP Cuts Threaten Rural Economies, Grocers, Local Governments
To understand how deeply these cuts will reverberate across local economies, community leaders, independent business owners and growers share their firsthand perspectives on what is at stake. • September 18, 2026 01:27 PM snap (Image courtesy USDA) While discussions around Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cuts often focus on individual household struggles, the economic fallout of the proposed Farm Bill extends far beyond the dinner table.
The Packer — September 21, 2026
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Why the Nation’s Largest Cyclospora Outbreak Ended in a Supply Chain Mystery
Registrar Corp’s director of food safety explains how siloed records, rapid product turnover and incomplete traceback data leave regulators unable to pinpoint root causes, leaving major foodborne outbreaks unresolved even after the danger has passed. • September 17, 2026 04:59 PM With upcoming FDA regulations demanding complete traceability within 24 hours, proper handling and lot tracking at the facility level are essential to preventing breakages in the supply chain during an outbreak response.
Food Forward Is Rethinking the Produce Supply Chain to Shift 500M Pounds of Surplus
The produce recovery organization solves a challenge by redirecting truckload-scale commercial surplus to hunger relief networks, delivering 2.8 billion total servings of fresh fruits and vegetables to communities experiencing food insecurity. • September 16, 2026 04:23 PM Food Forward staff distribute produce and other essentials at SoFi Stadium on Jan.
Grocers Take a Proactive Stance on Health and Wellness
Kroger and Hy-Vee are leveraging point-of-sale incentives and health-focused campaigns to drive consumer wellness, offering everything from fresh produce discounts and virtual dietitian access to heart-health fundraising at checkout.
Wish Farms Cuts Berry Inspection Time 70% With Clarifresh AI
The partnership brings automated defect detection and consistent, data-driven quality standards to Wish Farms’ berry operations. • September 15, 2026 12:26 PM For a highly perishable product like strawberries, speed and consistency in quality decisions can have a significant impact on profitability, product utilization and customer satisfaction. (Photo courtesy of Wish Farms) Wish Farms has adopted Clarifresh’s AI-powered platform to digitize quality management across its berry operations.
Why Specialty Crops Are Most Vulnerable to Structural Volatility (And What Retail Buyers Must Do Now)
Because fresh produce lacks long-term storage and futures hedging, retail buyers must ditch rigid sourcing calendars and build flexible supplier partnerships to navigate constant market shocks. • September 14, 2026 04:36 PM Unlike storable grain commodities, highly perishable crops absorb market and weather disruptions in real time without built-in price buffers.
Early Harvest, Big Flavor: An Accelerated Season Meets Strong Demand for California Fall Grapes
By adapting to a three-week accelerated harvest timeline through high-impact branding, robust postharvest protocols and strategic merchandising, California table grape shippers are positioning domestic supply to lead autumn produce sets.
Melon 1 Ships 300K Retail Display Bins Through Labor Day as Year-Round Demand Grows
The East Coast shipper is expanding fall production across North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. • September 04, 2026 01:31 PM Melon 1 wrapped up a powerhouse summer season after shipping approximately 300,000 custom retail display bins between the Fourth of July and Labor Day. (Photo courtesy of Melon 1) Melon 1 says it wrapped up a powerhouse summer season after shipping approximately 300,000 custom retail display bins between the Fourth of July and Labor Day.
The Packer — September 7, 2026
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The Next Big Crop in Retail Produce: Food Lion Debuts Violet Corn
Food Lion debuts exclusive violet corn at 500+ stores for Labor Day. Grown in Virginia, this limited-time crop packs twice the sweetness of traditional sweet corn for late-summer grilling. • September 03, 2026 10:31 AM Food Lion is bringing this exclusive, limited-time crop to more than 500 select produce departments.
CRISPR Breakthrough Yields Cold-Weather Tomatoes
Researchers identify a genetic mechanism that coordinates flower development and fruit formation, paving the way toward tomato varieties with more reliable winter harvests. • September 03, 2026 01:07 PM Pictured is a young fruit, showing the enormously fast fruit growth of the double mutant (eight days post-anthesis). (Photo courtesy of Nave Man) Every commercial tomato harvest hinges on a delicate reproductive window.
How Soil Health Data Is Changing Big Box Produce Sourcing
Elevated Foods is connecting small-scale specialty crop growers directly to major retailers, using lab-backed soil health data and streamlined logistics to bring regenerative agriculture into mainstream grocery aisles. • September 02, 2026 01:30 PM Elevated Foods says it focuses on operational efficiency to make regenerative produce commercially viable without expecting immediate price markups.
Rescuing Surplus Produce Delivers Financial Wins for Growers and Foodservice
A pioneering pilot from the U.S. Food Waste Pact reveals that redirecting farm-level surplus strawberries into commercial kitchens can deliver an 80% revenue boost over juicing channels for growers while offering foodservice operators a 22.4% cost savings.
Rethinking Produce Procurement: Bonduelle’s Bobby Chacko on ‘The Economics of Trust’
After categorywide disruption from cyclospora outbreaks, the Bonduelle Americas CEO urges retail buyers to look beyond unit price, arguing that chasing the lowest purchase price creates systemic risks for retail brands, growers and consumer confidence. • August 31, 2026 02:49 PM “The lowest purchase price isn’t always the lowest total cost,” says Bobby Chacko, CEO of Bonduelle Americas.
The Banana Barometer: Why Produce Quality Drives a Nearly 16-Point Swing in Retail Scores
A new report from Intouch Insight shows that the produce department acts as a direct indicator of overall store health, with 71% of consumers agreeing that a grocer’s produce reputation dictates where they shop. • August 27, 2026 10:27 AM Because bananas are highly visible, fast-moving and notoriously quick to bruise or overripe, they expose operational shortcuts faster than almost any other item in the store.
Sweet Potatoes Are Tackling Avocados for Game Day Dominance
By leveraging football-themed packaging and displays, Bako Sweet drove a 73% lift in Game Day sales, proving sweet potatoes can rival avocados as a tailgate favorite. • August 26, 2026 02:50 PM Now in its second year, Bako Sweet is kicking off its Game Day promotion designed to capture shopper attention during the highest consumption season of the year.
Squeezed Shoppers Turn to Versatile Produce Staples to Stretch Grocery Dollars
Driven by grocery inflation and a surge in home cooking, consumers are adopting “ingredient household” shopping habits, prioritizing long-lasting, low-shrink produce items like potatoes that span multiple dayparts. • August 25, 2026 01:04 PM According to a recent Idaho Potato Commission survey, nearly two-thirds of shoppers prioritize versatile ingredients that work across every meal — and potatoes topped the list for stretching grocery dollars without sacrificing flavor.
Passive Electromagnetic Tech Claims Up to 47% Shrink Reduction Across Fresh Supply Chains
Nature’s Frequencies is targeting produce spoilage with its patented Food Freshness Card, a chemical-free, passive technology designed to extend shelf life and deliver a full return on investment in under four months without altering standard cold-chain operations. • August 24, 2026 01:11 PM To combat microbial spoilage, Nature’s Frequencies has introduced the Food Freshness Card.
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