Adriane Rippberger, 38
Director of Marketing, Mushroom Council, Lee’s Summit, MO
June 12, 2026 | 3 min to read
SHORT BIO
Hometown: Lake Mills, WI
Hobbies: Camping, Hiking, Biking, Reading
Family/Community: Married, 2 daughters, School reading and lunchroom volunteer, Neighborhood community cleanup group
Motto in life: Leave things better than you found them.
Rippberger is a passionate food marketer and strategist dedicated to supporting U.S. agriculture and the growers behind it. Over the course of her career, she has helped lead national marketing campaigns across the produce industry, connecting consumers with fresh foods while supporting demand for American farmers.
Her work has been recognized with multiple industry honors, including awards from the National Agri-Marketing Association and the American Advertising Federation for national consumer marketing campaigns.
Rippberger began her career at Harvest PR, where she discovered the unique world of commodity marketing and quickly developed a passion for the produce industry. She helped lead marketing efforts for organizations, including the National Watermelon Promotion Board and the U.S. Apple Association, and played a key role in securing the Mushroom Council business in 2015.
Following Harvest PR’s merger to become Curious Plot, she spent the next seven years helping shape marketing strategy for major commodity boards, including California Avocados, Midwest Dairy and the Mushroom Council. After 13 years in agency leadership, Rippberger joined the Mushroom Council in 2025 as director of marketing and working from Minneapolis, where she now helps lead national consumer, retail, foodservice, and nutrition programs designed to increase demand for fresh mushrooms across the U.S.
Q: How did you begin working in the produce industry and why?
My career in produce started somewhat unexpectedly. Early in my career, I joined Harvest PR. I honestly had no idea this world existed. But the more I learned, the more I realized how unique the industry is.
In marketing, you don’t always get the opportunity to promote something that genuinely benefits people. In produce, you do. You’re helping connect consumers with real food and supporting the people who produce it. Once you spend time with growers and see the passion behind what they do, it’s hard not to feel invested in their success. That combination of purpose and storytelling is what has kept me in this industry.
Q: What do you wish you knew when you first started your career?
You are your own best advocate. Early in your career, it’s easy to believe that good work will naturally get noticed. The most successful people learn to speak up, raise their hands for opportunities, and advocate for the impact they want to make.
Q: What is the one thing in produce that you are most passionate about?
Without question — the growers. When you spend time with farmers and hear about the challenges and risks they face, it gives real perspective on the importance of the work we do in marketing. Supporting the people who grow our food is incredibly motivating.
Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?
I’m most proud of the long-term commitment I’ve made to the produce industry, and the commodity organizations I’ve served over the years. For nearly 15 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside growers, boards and industry partners to build marketing programs that evolve and grow over time. That continuity has allowed me to develop meaningful relationships and a deep understanding of many different commodities.