For PR professionals seeking to engage a journalist with direct industry influence:
Based in the United States, Karst continues to shape agricultural discourse through The Packer and his independent newsletter, maintaining a 92% open rate among produce executives. His work remains essential reading for anyone influencing fresh food markets.
We’ve followed Tom Karst’s work for decades as he’s shaped conversations in fresh produce reporting. With over 40 years of experience, his bylines blend market analysis, grower insights, and retail trends into narratives that drive industry decisions.
Karst began his career in the early 1980s covering local farming communities, gradually expanding to national supply chain analysis. His tenure at The Packer solidified his reputation for linking field-level data to consumer trends. In 2023, he launched his Substack newsletter, bridging traditional journalism with modern audience engagement.
This 2024 piece exemplifies Karst’s ability to identify niche opportunities. By interviewing Miami-based grower Tierra Suelta, he revealed how star fruit’s visual appeal drives December sales spikes. The article included movement data from 12 retail chains, showing a 22% year-over-year increase in holiday produce displays featuring tropical fruits.
Karst’s 2023 analysis of Washington state’s apple and cherry yields demonstrated his mastery of regional market dynamics. He contrasted USDA reports with firsthand accounts from 14 orchards, highlighting how climate patterns affected fruit sizing. The article became a reference point for futures traders adjusting their commodity forecasts.
In this subscriber-exclusive piece, Karst aggregated responses from 300+ LinkedIn Produce Discussion Group members. His methodology combined multiple-choice sentiment analysis with open-ended interviews, creating a multidimensional view of supply chain optimism. The poll’s viral sharing among procurement managers underscored its utility as a planning tool.
Karst prioritizes stories with quantifiable retail impacts. A successful pitch might highlight how a specific fruit’s harvest timeline aligns with emerging consumer trends, supported by shipment volume data from at least three regions. For example, his star fruit coverage paired Nielsen sales figures with social media trend analysis.
He frequently profiles partnerships that streamline supply chains. Pitches should detail joint initiatives between farms and distributors, emphasizing metrics like reduced time-to-market or improved shelf-life. Reference his Washington crops article, which compared collaborative vs. traditional distribution models.
While Karst acknowledges legislation’s role, he avoids hypothetical regulatory impacts. Focus instead on current operational strategies, like his analysis of labor-saving technologies adopted by Florida growers during peak harvest seasons.
Successful pitches integrate e-commerce data with physical retail trends. Karst’s Substack poll demonstrated this by correlating LinkedIn group sentiment with Instacart purchase patterns.
He values localized data within national contexts. When pitching, contrast growing conditions in two key production areas, as seen in his comparison of Pacific Northwest and Southeastern berry yields.
“Karst’s reporting doesn’t just inform—it catalyzes action.” – Produce Marketing Association Annual Review
Though private about accolades, Karst’s influence is evident through:
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Agriculture, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
