102 - Sugary Drinks, Plant Based “Meat,” and a Cookie for Every Diet — Food Trends

Agriculture is a consumer business that’s impacted by consumer trends. (By the way, so are ALL businesses!) Jim Dudlicek, Editorial Director for Progressive Grocer joins me to talk about food trends. What changes are going on in food and beverage consumption? We discuss the continual decline of sweetened beverages — although not if they’re sweetened with cane sugar — that’s a growth category now. Jim tells us about other hot new beverage entrants — everything from “Smoo-bucha” to vinegar based drinks (yuck!). Then we talk meat trends. What drives people to eat plant based protein? Some of Jim’s findings will surprise you. Turns out, vegans aren’t who’s buying Beyond burgers!