The Buyer's Desk

The industry has been abuzz with regenerative organic over the past several years—but will the momentum continue? This week, Jim is joined by INFRA Director of Promotional Programs Nick Auzenne to explore the evolution of Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC), what it will take to drive greater consumer awareness and adoption, and the opportunities and challenges facing the movement. They also dig into the foundation of regenerative agriculture: soil health, and why healthier soil plays such an important role in the future of food and farming.

This episode is brought to you by poppi.

Did you miss our fascinating keynote on the topic of reusables during this year’s INFRA Annual Conference? Don’t worry, because we invited Tom Szaky, CEO of TerraCycle and Loop, to expand upon the many ways that independent natural food retailers can participate in the reuse movement. Tom touches on the complexities of recycling, compostable packaging, and the future of circular economy solutions. Tune in to better understand the importance of system dynamics, regulatory impacts, and the role of independent retailers in driving sustainable change.

Originally aired 7/14/26.

This week, we're revisiting our conversation with Amelia Rappaport, Manager at Woodstock Farmers’ Market in Vermont, to explore the relationships, values, and intentional choices that have helped the store thrive for decades. Amelia shares how a commitment to inclusion and accessibility shapes everything from daily operations to the customer experience, and why truly believing in the products you carry is one of the most important qualities a buyer can bring to the role.

This episode is brought to you by The Good Crisp.

We’re excited to introduce a new episode format on The Buyer’s Desk this week with our first roundtable discussion! Angela, Matt, Sara, and Rayna join forces to uncover how organic became the standard it is today, and what it means for retailers, shoppers, and growers. They trace the USDA Organic seal from the earliest national standard conversations to the current organic landscape—from certification, shopper trust and label confusion to the future of organic in a crowded claims landscape.

We hope you enjoy and stay tuned next month for our next roundtable discussion!

In this week’s episode of The Buyer’s Desk, co-host Angela Bozo chats with SPINS Broker Insights Manager Rachel Brobst to explore the latest trends shaping the beauty and body care category. Together, they unpack insights from SPINS’ recent State of Beauty & Body Care 2026 report that outlines consumers’ growing focus on holistic beauty, the continued demand for convenience, and the idea that trust is the new luxury.

Tune in to learn how independent retailers can move beyond simply managing beauty categories to better understand the trends and products in the space.

This episode is brought to you by Little Sesame.

This episode is brought to you by Chomps.

In this week's episode of The Buyer's Desk, SPINS Senior Retail Insights Manager Jim is joined by Matt Olson, INFRA Fresh Retail Strategist, to dive into the current state of organic produce.

From fresh food recalls to overall trust in the organic label, Matt and Jim discuss how independent retailers can leverage local supplier relationships and the organic label to foster trust with shoppers.

In this episode, Pat chats with Jeff D’entremont, Senior Vice President at Informa Markets, about event management in the natural foods sector. Jeff shares insights from his diverse career managing major events, from NFL stadium to natural products expos, and how to create passionate and loyal event attendees across a variety of sectors. Plus, get the inside scoop on Informa’s latest event innovation, Newtopia Now, and where the event is going next.

This episode is brought to you by Harken Sweets.

This week, we’re digging into a hefty topic: the Federal Trade Commission’s anti-trust case against Amazon. In this episode, Ron Knox, Senior Researcher and Policy Advocate at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR), explains Amazon’s “monopoly flywheel” of predatory business practices raising prices across the internet. He breaks down the background of the case, where it stands today, and what it could mean for independents in the struggle against growing monopoly power.

This episode is brought to you by PUR Gum.

This week, Pat is joined by Kristie Cerutti, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Impact at Ancient Nutrition. Kristie discusses how Ancient Nutrition works to continually evaluate and minimize its environmental impact through initiatives including Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC), farmer support, and packaging changes. She also shares strategies for independents to successfully sell ROC products, despite their premium price tag.

This episode is brought to you by Little Sesame Hummus.

Back-to-school season is here, and that means it’s time to start filling lunchboxes again! In this episode, Senior Category Manager Kim Route and SPINS Expert Jim Olson chat about top-performing brands across INFRA stores that are both kid-approved and better-for-you. They cover the natural swaps for all the lunchbox staples, from sandwiches to fruit snacks and meat sticks, plus convenient options for busy parents.