Editor’s note: The following profile is from the 2025 Packer 25, our annual tribute to 25 leaders, innovators and agents of change across the fresh produce supply chain. (You can view all honorees here.) This feature has been edited for length and clarity.
Kelsey Coon — Sales and marketing manager, Highline Mushrooms
Kelsey Coon remembers reading The Packer 25 list last year and thinking, “I still have a lot to prove before I’ll ever belong there.” Coon says she is humbled by the honor one year later.
“To be recognized on the Packer 25 alongside so many people I’ve looked up to since I started in this industry is an incredible honor. To now see my name among such leaders, innovators and changemakers feels surreal,” Coon says.
What led you to the produce industry?
This industry is fueled by grit. I came into produce through marketing, but I quickly realized it wasn’t just about strategy or campaigns. It’s about showing up every day, learning as you go and building trust in an industry that never slows down. The connections I’ve made, the people who’ve welcomed me in and the challenges I’ve had to push through have shaped me more than I ever expected.
Even though my time in produce has been short, I’ve truly fallen in love with it. I often say produce is stuck with me now. This recognition feels less like a finish line and more like motivation to keep proving myself, to keep growing and to keep giving back to an industry that has already given me so much.
Can you share a leadership moment you’re most proud of during your career so far?
The Highline Mushrooms rebrand has been one of the defining moments of my career. From the start, it was clear this wasn’t just about a new look. It was about shaking things up in a category that doesn’t always embrace change easily. And shake things up, we did.
Taking chances, challenging the status quo and pushing boundaries wasn’t always comfortable, but that leap into the unknown is what made the rebrand so powerful. The “Be Super” platform, clear rPET tills and bold, modern packaging all became signals to the category that mushrooms deserve the same energy and excitement as other fresh foods.
What I learned through it all is that leadership isn’t about having every answer. It is about creating momentum, inspiring others to rally behind a vision and having the courage to push forward even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed. The rebrand proved to me that I can lead by being bold, collaborative and relentless in moving ideas into action. It has been a career-defining experience, and for the category, I believe it is just the beginning.
What’s one lesson you’ve learned that you would pass along to someone just starting out in this industry?
There is room for everyone, and your perspective matters more than you think. When I came into produce from radio, I wondered how I would fit into such a deeply rooted industry. What I learned quickly is that this industry thrives on fresh ideas, collaboration and the courage to speak up.
It is about showing up every day, learning as you go and building trust in an industry that never slows down. The connections I have made, the people who have welcomed me in and the challenges I have had to push through have shaped me more than I ever expected.
At Highline, some of our biggest wins have come from pairing generations of growing expertise with new ways of reaching consumers through digital storytelling, targeted campaigns and retail activations that create buzz. That blend of tradition and innovation is where the magic happens.
My advice is simple. Do not wait until you feel ready. Lean into your strengths, ask questions and speak up with your ideas. This industry rewards curiosity, resilience and authenticity. There is no single way to make an impact, and that is exactly what makes it so special.
Fun question: If you could invite three people (past or present) to share a mushroom-based meal with you, who would they be?
That’s a tough one to narrow down. There are so many, but I think I narrowed it down:
- My Grandma — She was always the one sneaking mushrooms into every meal for their health benefits, and she even worked at Highline Mushrooms years ago. It would mean so much to sit down with her again and share this part of my journey.
- Anthony Bourdain — I have a weird obsession with his “Layover” shows, and honestly, no explanation needed. What a legend. I’d love to see how he would prepare mushrooms and turn them into something unforgettable.
- Tinx (Christina Najjar) — She’s TikTok’s “older sister,” and her mix of humor, advice and pop culture commentary has shaped the way so many people engage with digital. I’d love to hear her perspective on influence, storytelling and, of course, how she’d bring mushrooms into one of her famous “life theories.” And yes, I had to incorporate an influencer; I am chronically online.
