2026 Women of Influence
Honoring the women shaping the food industry
For 21 years, we have honored the outstanding women shaping the food industry, from executives and innovators to mentors and community leaders. This year’s honorees represent a wide range of roles, backgrounds and regions.
Meet the 2026 Women of Influence
Search by name or company, or browse the full list below. Select Read More on any honoree to read her story.
-
2026 Women of InfluenceJennie Coleman
President and Co-owner, Equifruit
Read MoreEquifruit is a leading North American importer and marketer of Fairtrade bananas, recognized for its ethical sourcing. Since acquiring the company in 2013, Jennie Coleman has transformed it into a high-growth, values-led business with expanding distribution across North America -- demonstrating that responsible supply chains and strong commercial performance can scale together.
Under her leadership, Equifruit has achieved consistent growth and secured major retail partnerships, helping bring Fairtrade bananas into the mainstream. This success has delivered measurable impact: more than $5.5 million in Fairtrade Premiums have been generated for banana-growing communities, funding worker-led investments in education, infrastructure and workplace safety.
Coleman's influence extends beyond her company. She serves on the board of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (2023-present), is a non-executive director of BananaLink (2022-present) and contributes to the World Banana Forum (2024-present), where she advocates for fair pricing, labor protections and gender equity in agriculture. She also is a voice on supply-chain accountability, including issues of forced and child labor.
Coleman's leadership has received national recognition, including Canada's Most Admired CEO (2024), RBC Women of Influence Momentum Award (2023) and Outstanding Woman in Produce (2022).