Last Updated on August 10, 2026 by higherring
We’re proud to sponsor The Naturalist, a podcast exploring the ideas, innovations, and trends shaping the future of food. In a recent episode, the hosts sat down with Nancy Coulter Parker and later welcomed Brenna Davis, CEO of Organically Grown Company, for a thoughtful conversation about the state of organic produce.
While fresh produce isn’t our category, many of the themes they discussed felt remarkably familiar. At ZEGO, we’re passionate about transparency, supporting farmers, and helping consumers make informed choices about the food they eat. That’s why this conversation caught our attention.
Organic Growth Reflects a Growing Desire for Confidence in Food
One of the biggest takeaways from the discussion was that organic produce continues to outpace conventional produce growth.
The numbers are important, but what interests us even more is what they reflect: more people are asking deeper questions about where their food comes from, how it’s grown, and whether it aligns with their values.
That’s a trend we’ve seen across the food industry. Consumers are looking beyond marketing claims and seeking information they can trust.
Today’s Shoppers Are Looking for More Than “Healthy”
For years, much of the conversation around organic food focused on parents searching for the best options for their families. That’s still an important part of the story, but today’s consumers are coming from many different backgrounds and motivations.
The podcast explored how changing consumer behaviors, including the rise of GLP-1 medications and broader conversations around food and wellness, are encouraging people to think more intentionally about the foods they choose.
What stood out to us was the growing distinction between food that sounds healthy and food that offers meaningful transparency.
At ZEGO, we believe consumers deserve more than broad wellness claims. They deserve information that helps them make confident decisions for themselves and their families. That’s why transparency remains at the center of everything we do. Consumers have a right to know what’s in their food before they buy it or eat it.
As Price Gaps Narrow, Trust Becomes Even More Important
The episode highlighted how the price gap between organic and conventional products has narrowed in some categories.
When products become more comparable in price, the conversation often shifts from “Why does this cost more?” to “What value am I getting?”
For many consumers, that value comes down to trust.
- Trust in how food is grown.
- Trust in the standards behind certifications.
- Trust that companies are being open about what they know.
As Brenna noted, trust is one of organic’s greatest strengths. We couldn’t agree more.
Supporting Farmers Means Supporting the Future of Food
Another important theme was the pressure facing growers today.
Weather challenges, labor constraints, and rising input costs continue to create uncertainty across agriculture. These realities affect every part of the food system.
We hear many of the same concerns from the U.S. farmers and supply chain partners we work with. Supporting a healthier food system requires more than creating products. It means helping build resilient supply chains and creating opportunities for farmers who are committed to growing cleaner, more nutritious food. Supporting farmers and strengthening purity-focused supply chains is a core part of ZEGO’s mission.
Transparency Builds Trust
One point from the conversation resonated deeply with us: the future of organic depends on strengthening consumer trust through greater transparency and clearer information.
That’s a principle that guides our work every day.
At ZEGO, we believe transparency should be actionable, not aspirational. Consumers shouldn’t have to rely on “trust us.” They should have access to information that helps them make informed choices.
We believe food companies can help strengthen consumer confidence by making testing and sourcing information more accessible and easier to understand.
Celebrating the People Behind Agriculture
We also appreciated the discussion around the role women play in agriculture and food systems leadership.
The people growing, producing, and stewarding our food supply often don’t receive the visibility they deserve. Recognizing their contributions and creating opportunities for the next generation of agricultural leaders is essential to building a stronger food system for everyone.
Why This Conversation Matters
Organic produce and specialty grains are different categories, but they share many of the same opportunities and challenges.
Consumers are asking more questions.
Farmers are navigating increasing complexity.
And the demand for transparency continues to grow.
For us, that points to an encouraging future. One where consumers have greater access to information, farmers receive stronger support, and the food industry continues moving toward higher standards of trust and accountability.
That’s a future we’re proud to help build.
Thank you to The Naturalist, Nancy Coulter Parker, and Brenna Davis for a thoughtful conversation that reflects many of the same questions and opportunities we’re exploring every day.
About New Hope Network
The Naturalist is part of the broader New Hope Network ecosystem, which brings together conversations and insights from across the natural and healthy lifestyle products industry.
New Hope Network’s podcast explores hot products, emerging trends, and expert insights driving the future of CPG. From seaweed burgers and meatless meats to mushroom elixirs, adaptogenic mocktails, plastic-free packaging, and waterless shampoos, the series looks at the innovations shaping a nearly $300 billion natural products industry—and considers which products and trends have the potential to create lasting change.
Through its content, events, data, research, and consultative services, New Hope Network supports manufacturers, retailers, distributors, service providers, ingredient suppliers, media, investors, and other members of the CPG and retail ecosystem.
Its purpose is to cultivate a prosperous, high-integrity CPG and retail ecosystem that creates health, joy, and justice for all people while regenerating the planet.
We appreciate New Hope Network for creating space for conversations that challenge the industry to think differently about the future of food, sustainability, innovation, and consumer trust.
Thank you to The Naturalist, Nancy Coulter Parker, and Brenna Davis for a thoughtful conversation that reflects many of the same questions and opportunities we’re exploring every day.
At ZEGO, we’re excited to be part of a food industry that continues asking better questions—and working toward more transparent answers.