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Jill Dutton

Jill Dutton, associate editor of The Packer, specializes in retail produce news, market trends and urban farming initiatives. With expertise in the rapidly evolving e-grocery landscape, she provides analysis on how digital platforms are reshaping food distribution. Jill is a prominent voice on sustainability and consumer trends, offering actionable insights that help businesses navigate shifting market demands. Her work explores the full produce journey — from farm to retail — featuring grower profiles, supply chain insights and emerging production models that shape American food systems.

Latest Stories
Built on the legacy of the Johnston family’s 1920s homestead in Gilbert, Ariz., Agritopia has evolved from a traditional desert farm into a premier “agri-hood” where 11 acres of organic orchards and row crops serve as the social heart of a modern residential village.
At just 15 years old, Malon E.D. James is blending his grandmother’s wisdom with high-tech innovation to fight food deserts from a lab in Atlanta.
The Kroger Co. is shifting to a capital-light fulfillment model by launching nationwide on-demand delivery across nearly 2,700 stores through the Uber app ecosystem to improve digital profitability and delivery speed.
While a JEC report reveals grocery costs spiked by $310 annually, fresh produce remained a rare anchor of stability, as modest increases for items like lettuce and oranges were countered by an actual price drop for tomatoes, potatoes and strawberries.
By bridging the gap between “better-for-you” nutrition and the convenience of traditional CPG snacks, suppliers are unlocking new revenue streams through sophisticated merchandising and right-sized packaging.
As disease pressure, labor challenges and rising costs reshape controlled-environment production, growers and experts weigh when tomato grafting delivers real value and when it doesn’t.
ALDI US is celebrating its 50th anniversary by opening 180 new stores in 2026, marking its first entry into Colorado and expanding its cold-chain infrastructure to meet surging demand for fresh produce.
From the snack aisle to the produce section, the newest generation of autonomous intelligence offers retailers 24/7 visibility and precision at enterprise scale.
With government assistance spending moving rapidly online, Amazon’s new pilot programs and Prime Access discounts are creating a massive new gateway for fresh produce sales.
In leveraging Tastewise’s AI to identify the “Charfruiterie” trend months ahead of the competition, Crunch Pak successfully tapped into the adult snacking market to generate $10 million in new revenue.