Salmonella enterica can persist in the plant niche, contaminating food crops and causing foodborne illness. Understanding the metabolite landscape Salmonella interacts with on the plant surface, as a factor of plant genetic variability and plant responses to biotic and abiotic factors, can help explain Salmonella dynamics in the plant niche.  This knowledge can be used to identify plant traits and novel strategies for improved control of this human pathogen on fruit and vegetables.