Episode 396: Danyel O’Connor and Meghan Diaz
Jun 03, 2026
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Summary:
In this episode of The Produce Moms Podcast, host Lori Taylor is joined by Danyel O’Connor, CEO of Umami, and Meghan Diaz, Senior Director-Produce at Sprouts Farmers Market for a Women’s Roundtable discussion focused on the evolving intersection of the attention economy, food innovation, and fresh produce consumption.
The conversation explores how consumers define “healthy eating” versus how they actually behave, revealing a major disconnect between perception and reality. The group dives into the growing influence of GLP-1 medications, the role of economic constraints in food decisions, and how dopamine-driven cravings shape grocery choices.
They also unpack the challenges and opportunities within food innovation, including the $200B lost annually to failed product innovation, and how collaboration across growers, retailers, and innovators is essential to success. Finally, they explore how fresh produce continues to evolve through flavor innovation, convenience formats, and regional supply chains while emphasizing the need to keep fruits and vegetables central to the future of food.
Takeaways:
- There is a major disconnect between consumers’ perception of healthy eating and actual health outcomes.
- GLP-1 medications are significantly influencing food consumption patterns and cravings.
- Food choices are driven by a combination of convenience, cost, emotion, and reward—not just knowledge.
- Economic constraints heavily influence food purchasing behavior, including fresh produce consumption.
- The “attention economy” impacts how consumers make decisions in crowded retail environments.
- Food innovation requires collaboration across the entire supply chain to be successful.
- Up to $200B is lost annually due to failed or wasted food innovation efforts.
- Produce innovation is evolving through flavor, format, and convenience-driven offerings.
- Foodservice continues to influence retail produce adoption and innovation trends.
- Fresh produce must be better positioned and communicated to meet modern consumer needs.
- Regional food systems and supply chain resilience are becoming increasingly important.
- There is a strong opportunity to increase fruit and vegetable consumption through better storytelling and merchandising.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Women’s Roundtable and Guest Introductions
01:30 Continuing the Attention Economy Conversation
03:00 The “Food is Medicine” Movement and Consumer Health Perception
06:00 GLP-1s and Their Impact on Food Consumption
09:30 Healthy Eating: Perception vs Reality
12:00 Convenience, Cost, and Consumer Decision-Making
16:00 Reward Systems, Cravings, and Behavioral Drivers
19:30 The Attention Economy in Grocery Shopping
23:00 Innovation Waste and the $200B Problem
26:00 Collaboration Across the Food Supply Chain
29:00 Evolution of Fresh Produce and Flavor Innovation
33:00 Foodservice Influence on Retail Trends
36:00 Innovation Timing, Adoption, and Shelf Life
39:00 Regional Supply Chains and the Future of Produce
41:00 Closing Thoughts on the Future of Food
