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Brooks Johnson

Business Reporter
Food and manufacturing
Raised in Fargo and educated at the University of Montana, Johnson worked at newspapers in Idaho, Washington and Duluth before joining the Minnesota Star Tribune at its relaunched Duluth bureau in 2019. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and their young sons.

Latest from Brooks Johnson

Plant-based luminaries will headline Minneapolis food and ag event

The founders of Impossible Foods and Miyoko’s Creamery kick off Naturally Minnesota’s Food, Ag, Ideas Week this fall. Plus high beef prices and a UNFI cyberattack update in this week’s news roundup.
July 4, 2025
FILE -- An Impossible Foods meatless burger on the grill at the company's headquarters in Redwood City, Calif., on Dec. 23, 2016. Burger King is introducing a version of its iconic Whopper sandwich filled with a vegetarian patty from the California-based startup. (Jason Henry/The New York Times)

Knee-high by Fourth of July: What’s growing in Minnesota and why

There are almost 20 million acres of crops in the state, mostly producing corn, soybeans and sugar beets for a variety of uses, including food and fuel.
July 4, 2025

General Mills finalizes sale of U.S. yogurt business to Lactalis

The French dairy giant will now helm Yoplait, Go-Gurt, Mountain High as well as other brands and has opened a Minnetonka office for the Minnesota-based employees it acquired.
June 30, 2025
Yoplait yogurt.

The last bite: More food companies say they’ll take out synthetic dyes

They cite “consumer trends,” but state laws provide an economic reason to make the switch.
June 27, 2025
FILE -- A view of a San Francisco neighborhood sculpted out of Jell-O, in San Francisco, Feb. 3, 2006. The federal government will ask a panel of experts this week whether foods like Jell-O, Froot Loops cereal and Minute Maid Lemonade should carry warnings that the bright artificial colorings in them worsen behavior problems like hyperactivity in some children.

Where Timberwolves owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez made their money

The duo, who bought the Timberwolves and Lynx, made their wealth via blockbuster deals and benefited from key partnerships.
June 26, 2025

General Mills’ profit falls 47% as weary shoppers continue to look for bargains

Sales for the Golden Valley-based company continued to slide as economic uncertainty continues to pressure consumer goods companies.
June 25, 2025

What to know about Marc Lore, Alex Rodriguez

A-Rod and Lore came from similar backgrounds, followed starkly different career paths, and met through a mutual friend five years ago.
June 24, 2025

General Mills launching Blue Buffalo fresh pet food nationwide

The Golden Valley-based company’s pet food brand is entering a fast-growing refrigerated dog food category later this year with its Love Made Fresh line.
June 23, 2025

Where Timberwolves owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez made their money

The duo, who bought the Timberwolves and Lynx, made their wealth via blockbuster deals and benefited from key partnerships.
June 26, 2025

General Mills’ profit falls 47% as weary shoppers continue to look for bargains

Sales for the Golden Valley-based company continued to slide as economic uncertainty continues to pressure consumer goods companies.
June 25, 2025

What to know about Marc Lore, Alex Rodriguez

A-Rod and Lore came from similar backgrounds, followed starkly different career paths, and met through a mutual friend five years ago.
June 24, 2025

General Mills launching Blue Buffalo fresh pet food nationwide

The Golden Valley-based company’s pet food brand is entering a fast-growing refrigerated dog food category later this year with its Love Made Fresh line.
June 23, 2025
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