Some people command a room. Others hold it without saying a word. That kind of gravity is rare. When you feel it, you honor it. Kathleen Triou, President and CEO of Fresh Solutions Network, has that gravity. At the 2026 Besties Awards, we recognized Kathleen not only for her ability to lead, but for her willingness to contribute, to grow relationships and community, to build up a category that builds up an industry.
When Kathleen stepped to the microphone at our Besties event in Monterey, California, this year, it was not her words that commanded attention; it was the quiet confidence of a woman who has traveled not just one road less taken, but two. After the event, Kathleen sat down to share her story with me, and her words paint that picture better than any narrative I could tell. And so, here they are.
Kathleen Triou: Being recognized as a Pillar of the Industry is meaningful, particularly because it comes from the industry and the community that has given so much to me throughout my career. I've never thought about my career in terms of awards. I've thought about the work, solving problems, finding opportunities, building brands and products, and helping our industry respond to what consumers and customers need next. To have that body of work recognized by people I respect makes this award especially meaningful. No one accomplishes anything worthwhile in this industry alone.
I've had the privilege of working alongside remarkable growers, retailers, colleagues, agency partners, suppliers, and friends. So while my name may be on the award, I see it as recognition of a career built with a lot of talented people.
KT: The Air Force taught me that leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about being prepared, taking responsibility, making decisions with the best information available, and trusting the people around you to do their jobs well. It also taught me the importance of mission. People do their best work when they understand not just what they are being asked to do, but why it matters.
Take Side Delights® at Fresh Solutions Network. That brand matters not because it is meant to be carried in lieu of private label, but because it gives us a strategic umbrella to innovate under. Once a product line succeeds under the brand, any retailer can adopt it under their own label, or leave it where it is. That makes the brand necessary for both innovation and risk management, much more than having a brand for the sake of having a brand. Understanding the why is a lesson that has stuck with me throughout my career.
The Air Force also taught me that leadership is a responsibility, not a privilege. Your job is to create the conditions for other people to succeed. I've tried to carry that with me in building teams, working with our grower partners, and collaborating with customers and industry colleagues.
KT: Produce is a relationship business, and those relationships become incredibly meaningful over time. I've worked with people who started as customers, suppliers, competitors, or colleagues and became trusted advisors and lifelong friends. What I value most is the willingness of people in this industry to share what they know and to help one another succeed. We compete, yes, but we also recognize that we are part of something bigger. Ultimately, all of us benefit when more consumers eat more fresh produce.
The accomplishments I am most proud of happened because people with very different expertise sat around a table, challenged one another, shared ideas, and figured out how to make something better. That is the genesis story of Fresh Solutions Network. Multiple generations of potato growers, figuring out how to deliver regional relevance with national distribution. That spirit of collaboration is one of the great strengths of our industry.
KT: I'm energized by possibility. Fresh produce is one of the oldest industries in the world, but there is still enormous opportunity to innovate how we grow, package, market, merchandise, prepare, and ultimately inspire people to eat more fruits and vegetables. I've always been curious about consumers: how they live, what is changing in their lives, what problems they are trying to solve, and what will make fresh produce more relevant to them. Turning those observations and data into insights, then into product ideas, then watching one of those ideas become something a shopper puts in their cart, never gets old.
And the people make it even more rewarding. This is an industry filled with entrepreneurs, multigenerational farming families, innovators, problem-solvers, and people who genuinely care about feeding others. There is a sense of purpose here that is difficult to replicate in any other industry.
KT: The opportunity ahead of us is tremendous!
Consumers increasingly want many of the things fresh produce naturally delivers: real food, nutrition, freshness, transparency, sustainability, and great taste. Our opportunity is to make those inherent advantages even more relevant to the way people live today.
That means continuing to innovate, not simply creating new products for the sake of being new, but solving real consumer problems. Convenience, new flavors, different cooking methods, better packaging, reduced waste, sustainability, and helping consumers understand how to use fresh produce all represent opportunities for growth.
I also believe the next generation will challenge many of the assumptions our industry has operated under for decades, and that is a good thing. Fresh thinking, combined with the agricultural knowledge and experience already within this industry, will be incredibly powerful.
The future of fresh produce won't be built by doing what we've always done. It will be built by staying curious, listening closely to consumers and customers, and being willing to ask, "What if we did this differently?"
What if we didn't just do it differently? What if we did it Kathleen's way? A leadership that gives more than it receives, and is energized by all that is already present and all that is possible.
A huge thank you to Kathleen for sharing her time, and deep gratitude to our Besties Committee for their time, dedication, and care. Relationships mean everything, and each of them brought their own passion and standards to the process. Your contributions are deeply valued.
This year, the committee voted on every category except Retailer of the Year, Pillar of the Industry Award, Innovator of the Year, and Snack Storyteller—honors selected by our leadership team due to their special significance.
Congratulations, my friend. We tip our caps to you, and raise a glass to 2026 and beyond. 
