Longtime ag journalist Tad Thompson mourned
Tad Thompson, former writer and regional editor for The Produce News and a longtime advocate for the produce industry, died yesterday after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 69.
Tad spent his professional life focused on writing about the fresh produce industry, bringing more than 40 years of experience and perspective to his work. He was a prolific writer for The Produce News from 2002 to 2011 and then again from 2014 to 2021. His friendly demeanor and eagerness to communicate a story efficiently and openly often turned the subjects of his stories into his friends.
Tributes on social media consistently speak to his affability and character as much as his work ethic and the impact of his writing.
“I knew Tad for the length of his career,” said Tim Linden, editor at large for The Produce News. "We worked together at The Produce News for many years and we also collaborated on two industry magazines, including the International Produce Journal, which was his brainchild. Tad was passionate about the international fruit and vegetable world and wrote more about that sector than any other U.S.-based ag journalist in his time. His writing style was unique with his subjects universally happy with the result. He will be sorely missed.”
Tad enjoyed hiking with his dogs and would shoot sunrise pictures that he sent to a Topeka TV station. "They use one or two of my pics about every night," he said. "Doesn’t pay anything but my mom sees my name on TV every night — and I didn’t even do anything bad."
Between his two runs with The Produce News Tad worked as business development manager at the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market, helping to promote what was a new market at the time. While there he conducted market tours, hosting several hundred potential customers and food trade leaders from all over the world. Additionally, in an effort to boost fruit and vegetable consumption he created, organized and presented the Delaware Valley Nutrition Summit in April 2013.
Throughout the 1990s Tad published the International Produce Journal, a magazine that featured the global fruit and vegetable trade as it related to North America. He traveled throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, China, Africa and Europe for his work.
In the mid-90s, he also published The Receiver magazine, which dealt with all matters concerning produce receivers, ranging from USDA regulations and grade standards, to food safety, transportation, cold storage and trade matters.
Tad was a Kansas State University graduate, earning his degree in journalism and mass communications in 1976.
He is survived by his wife, Debbi Thompson; two children, Claire and Reece; and his mother, Rosalie.
He will be missed by all who knew him.
The family will greet friends during a visitation from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Saturday April 20 at the First Presbyterian Church, 801 Leavenworth in Manhattan, KS. A Celebration of Life Service will follow the visitation at 10:30 a.m. Saturday April 20 at the church. Private inurnment will be held at a later date.
The family suggests memorial contributions in memory of Tad to the Manhattan Catbackers or the Good Shepherd Homecare and Hospice House Inc. Contributions may be sent in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS, 66502.
