Claim OwnershipThe Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly
Subscribed: 22Played: 730
Subscribe
© The Produce Industry Podcast
Description
The Produce Industry is very complex and covers A to Z literally Asparagus through Zucchini. We will discuss all types of markets foreign and domestic including Supply, Demand, Logistics, Technology, Food Safety, Sustainability, Industry Categories, Market Reports and Industry news, and more!!! Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theproduceindustrypodcast/support
874 Episodes
Reverse
This week on Fresh From the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man and Ross the Produce Boss welcome Caroline Lewis, founder of The Farmer’s Feed—all about reconnecting people with the farmers who actually grow their food.We dig into the cabbage trend that’s heating up in foodservice and retail, talk about why farmers need to tell their own stories, and how getting closer to the consumer really matters right now. We also hit on Valentine’s Day strawberries, a little floral, and what it all means at store level.It’s real people, real farmers, real food—right here on Fresh From the Field Fridays, from the Produce Industry Network, powered by AgLife Media.Check it out at aglifemedia.com.
What happens when exploration gives way to administration - and adventure turns into power? How did a royal garden become the beating heart of a global botanical empire? And how did Joseph Banks, without leaving London, reshape landscapes, economies, and diets across the world?In this episode, John and Patrick move from the drama of ocean voyages to the quieter - but far more consequential - world of Kew Gardens, where Banks transforms botany into infrastructure, plants into policy, and seeds into instruments of empire. From globe-spanning networks of plant hunters to glasshouses, diplomacy, and even Britain’s first brush with cannabis, this is where Banks stops collecting plants - and starts running the system.----------In Sponsorship with Cornell University: Dyson Cornell SC Johnson College of Business-----------Join the History of Fresh Produce Club for ad-free listening, bonus episodes, book discounts and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Support us!Share this episode with your friendsGive a 5-star ratingWrite a review-----------Subscribe to our biweekly newsletter here for extra stories related to recent episodes, book recommendations, a sneak peek of upcoming episodes and more.-----------Instagram, TikTok, Threads:@historyoffreshproduceEmail: historyoffreshproduce@gmail.com
In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast with Patrick Kelly, we break down the biggest takeaways from Fruit Logistica 2026 in Berlin — from data‑driven transformation and sustainability to global trade standards and the rise of storytelling in fresh produce. Patrick also shares his personal journey across Spain, Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, Chile, and beyond on a mission to uncover the top citrus making its way around the world.Plus, we feature exclusive on‑site interviews with Jaime Bustamante of the DRC on trade standards and financial protection, and Hannes Taubert of VOG – Home of Apples on strategy, branding, and global communication.If you want to understand where the fresh produce industry is heading — and what’s driving the next decade of growth — this episode delivers the insights you need.
This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, we’re talking earthquakes, snowy weather, and the real-world challenges facing the produce industry right now. On the fresh side, we dive into Gold Nugget mandarins, Cuties in bags, Enchanted cider, cello radishes, the sweetest batch blueberries, blood orange varieties, and pineberries. We also cover bringing healthier produce options to a kids’ dance competition, Super Bowl produce ideas including crudités and snackable fruit and veg, plant-based options, and a little Valentine’s Day inspiration too.It’s all right here on Fresh from the Field Fridays with Dan the Produce Man and Ross the Produce Boss, brought to you by the Produce Industry Network, powered by AgLife Media.Check out aglifemedia.com today.
This week on The Global Fresh Series, we’re coming to you from Fruit Logistica in Berlin, where the global fresh produce industry gathers to shape the future of trade, innovation, and market access.In this special episode, we share insights from the show floor and introduce a guest with years of hands-on experience doing business in the China fresh produce market. As China continues to play an outsized role in global pricing, demand, and premium fruit trends, understanding how to navigate this market has never been more critical.Our conversation explores what it really takes to succeed in China—from market access and consumer expectations to branding, logistics, and relationship-driven business culture—while connecting those lessons to the broader global themes emerging at Fruit Logistica.Whether you’re a grower, exporter, importer, or marketer, this episode offers timely perspective on how global trade shows like Fruit Logistica intersect with one of the world’s most influential fresh produce markets.
How did a gentleman botanist turn a vague imperial idea into a functioning colony on the far side of the world? Why did Joseph Banks’s quiet influence matter as much as any act of Parliament or naval broadside? And how did food, plants, and fragile supply lines decide whether Britain’s most audacious colonial experiment would live or die…?Join John and Patrick as Parliament finally commits to Botany Bay, Arthur Phillip sails with the First Fleet, and a penal colony teeters on the edge of starvation. From floating prisons and travelling greenhouses to shipwrecks, rum empires, and botanical lifelines, this is the moment when Banks’s vision collides with reality - on scorched soil, among hostile factions, and under the brutal pressure of survival.This is not just the founding of Australia.It’s the story of how empire is fed - or fails - one seed at a time.----------In Sponsorship with J&K Fresh.The customs broker who is your fruit and veggies’ personal bodyguard. Learn more here!-----------Join the History of Fresh Produce Club for ad-free listening, bonus episodes, book discounts and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Support us!Share this episode with your friendsGive a 5-star ratingWrite a review-----------Subscribe to our biweekly newsletter here for extra stories related to recent episodes, book recommendations, a sneak peek of upcoming episodes and more.-----------Instagram, TikTok, Threads:@historyoffreshproduceEmail: historyoffreshproduce@gmail.com
A powerful cold spell is sweeping across the United States — from snow flurries in Florida to citrus growers on alert in California and Texas. In this episode, we break down how the freeze is affecting produce supply, harvest timing, transportation, and pricing, all while recapping recent travels from Tucson and the SWIPE Conference. Weather volatility is shaping the market in real time, and we explore what buyers, shippers, and retailers should expect in the coming weeks.Then we shift gears as the show heads to Berlin, Germany, for Fruit Logistica — one of the world’s largest fresh‑produce trade events. We look at Berlin’s unique history in global food logistics, what to expect at the show, and the innovations likely to shape the year ahead. Special thanks to our international marketers DRC, VOG, and Global Women Fresh. Join us for a global look at produce as we get ready to head across the pond.www.aglifemedia.com
This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays with Dan the Produce Man and Ross the Produce Boss, Ross is fresh back from the SWIPE show and brings us a brand-new item called Zucchiolo. We also talk frozen grapes and why they’re such a great snack.On the produce table: Gold Nugget mandarins, Valentine pomelo, and a full lineup of cauliflower – white, green, purple, orange, plus the wild looking Romanesco. What’s the difference between them all? We break it down.We also get into waxy potatoes versus starchy potatoes, and why Idaho isn’t the only state growing great spuds. And we wrap it up with Proprietor burger leaf lettuce, a perfect fit for keto and low-carb lifestyles.It’s all right here on Fresh from the Field Fridays, from The Produce Industry Network and powered by AgLife Media.Check out AgLifeMedia.com today!
We begin with a deep dive into France’s recent decree banning five active substances on a range of fresh produce, regardless of country of origin, and explore what this unilateral move means for growers, exporters, and global supply chains operating within and beyond the European Union.Next, we’re excited to introduce a new segment, Consumer Insights, featuring Nicole MacDonald, who joins us to unpack how today’s consumers are thinking about food choices, trust, transparency, and value in an increasingly complex marketplace.We close the episode by addressing dynamic pricing — a growing concern for consumers and a powerful, and sometimes controversial, tool for perishable products. As technology and pricing algorithms evolve, we discuss where opportunity meets consumer perception, and why balance will be critical moving forward.From regulatory shifts to consumer expectations and the economics of perishables, this episode connects the dots on the pressures — and possibilities — shaping the future of fresh.
Fresh from fame and flush with ambition, Joseph Banks sets out to remake the world in his own image. But what happens when celebrity curdles into entitlement, when science collides with the Navy, and when one man’s colossal ego derails an imperial voyage before it even leaves port?Join John and Patrick as Banks plans a second South Seas expedition, throws one of the great tantrums of the eighteenth century, and quietly begins his transformation from globe-trotting naturalist into the most powerful scientific fixer in Britain.----------In Sponsorship with Cornell University: Dyson Cornell SC Johnson College of Business-----------Join the History of Fresh Produce Club for ad-free listening, bonus episodes, book discounts and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Support us!Share this episode with your friendsGive a 5-star ratingWrite a review-----------Subscribe to our biweekly newsletter here for extra stories related to recent episodes, book recommendations, a sneak peek of upcoming episodes and more.-----------Instagram, TikTok, Threads:@historyoffreshproduceEmail: historyoffreshproduce@gmail.com
Patrick Kelly and co‑host Ross Nelson take you straight to Tucson, Arizona for their very first Southwest International Produce Expo experience. From teeing off at the golf tournament to diving into education sessions, shaking hands at networking events, and walking the buzzing expo floor, this episode captures the energy and discovery of seeing the show through fresh eyes.Join the recap as Patrick and Ross sit down with industry leaders from Albertsons, Wakefern, HEB, and more to unpack trends, standout innovations, and the relationships shaping the future of produce. It’s a week of learning, laughter, and lively conversations you won’t want to miss.
This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Ross “The Produce Boss” and Dan the Produce Man share some great finds from the market. Ross talks about the Juicy Crunch tangerine, some air-fryer-ready frozen produce from PictSweet Farms, and a sweet treat — chocolate-covered pistachios. Dan dives into more microgreen varieties and shows off those beautiful bunched, multi-colored watermelon radishes.It’s all right here on Fresh from the Field Fridays from the Produce Industry Network, powered by AgLife Media.
This week on The Global Fresh Series, we take a wide-angle look at the forces reshaping the global fresh produce industry—from avocado boardroom power, with the blockbuster acquisition of Calavo Growers by Mission Produce, a deal that signals a new era of scale, vertical integration, and expansion into prepared foods. moves to unexpected environmental challenges influencing what ends up on our plates. Followed with exploring record avocado demand and how Avocados From Mexico is looking far beyond Super Bowl Sunday—forecasting billions of avocados moving through global markets and investing in year-round demand, new regions, and next-generation consumers. We look at microfibers in clothes stunting tomato growth and finally, we end on a sweet note with the surging global popularity of mangoes, as consumer demand, improved supply chains, and expanding markets continue to fuel one of the fastest-growing fruit categories worldwide.
What happens when discovery turns to disaster — and survival hangs on a sliver of luck? How close did Joseph Banks come to losing everything he had collected, and his life with it? And how did coral, disease, and chance shape one of the most important scientific voyages in history?Join John and Patrick as the Endeavour smashes onto the Great Barrier Reef, limps into Batavia, and is transformed from a ship of discovery into a floating hospital - a brutal reminder that Banks’s botanical triumphs were forged on the very edge of catastrophe.----------In Sponsorship with J&K Fresh.The customs broker who is your fruit and veggies’ personal bodyguard. Learn more here!-----------Join the History of Fresh Produce Club for ad-free listening, bonus episodes, book discounts and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Support us!Share this episode with your friendsGive a 5-star ratingWrite a review-----------Subscribe to our biweekly newsletter here for extra stories related to recent episodes, book recommendations, a sneak peek of upcoming episodes and more.-----------Instagram, TikTok, Threads:@historyoffreshproduceEmail: historyoffreshproduce@gmail.com
In this episode of the Produce Industry Podcast, Patrick Kelly sits down with Jeff Cady, Vice President of Procurement for Tops, to discuss retail sourcing, supplier relationships, and today’s produce market challenges. Jeff shares insights on procurement strategy, leadership, and what it takes to succeed as a retail partner in an evolving industry.
This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, we’re talking dandelion greens, Cara Cara red navels, and those rare Chocolate Navel oranges — all showing up in stores right now.Dan also breaks down a timely AgLife Media article on California pear growers and the impact of heavy imported pear volume still in the pipeline just as fresh Lake County pears are hitting the market.And we wrap it up with a look at some really cool, nutrient-packed broccoli microgreens.It’s all right here on Fresh from the Field Fridays, from the Produce Industry Network, powered by AgLife Media.
This week on The Global Fresh Series, we take a wide-angle look at how rapidly shifting environmental conditions, global demand, and innovation are reshaping the fresh produce landscape.We begin in California, where the state has officially been declared drought-free, marking a major turning point for growers, water policy, and long-term agricultural planning.From there, we travel to Southeast Asia, where surging demand for durian—driven by the Chinese market—is transforming the small rural village of Raub, in Malaysia. Once a quiet agricultural area, Raub is now positioning itself as a global supplier, expanding durian production and opening new export channels to India.We close the episode with a look at innovation closer to home, as four new potato varieties are introduced to the market—highlighting how plant breeding, consumer preferences, and adaptability continue to drive opportunity in staple crops.From climate resilience to exotic fruit demand and varietal innovation, this episode captures the interconnected forces shaping the future of global fresh produce.
What happened when Joseph Banks finally put to sea - and discovery left the comfort of gardens behind? How would a voyage meant to advance science collide with storms, suspicion, imperial rivalries, and human tragedy? And what would it cost to catalogue the natural world at the far edges of the globe?Join John and Patrick as they follow Banks aboard HMS Endeavour, from vineyards in Madeira and standoffs in Rio de Janeiro to catastrophe in Tierra del Fuego and the intoxicating promise of Tahiti. This is science under sail: plants collected at gunpoint, lives lost to ice and overconfidence, and the birth of a vision that would bind botany, empire, and exploration together - whether the world was ready for it or not.----------In Sponsorship with Cornell University: Dyson Cornell SC Johnson College of Business-----------Join the History of Fresh Produce Club for ad-free listening, bonus episodes, book discounts and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Support us!Share this episode with your friendsGive a 5-star ratingWrite a review-----------Subscribe to our biweekly newsletter here for extra stories related to recent episodes, book recommendations, a sneak peek of upcoming episodes and more.-----------Instagram, TikTok, Threads:@historyoffreshproduceEmail: historyoffreshproduce@gmail.com
In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast, Patrick Kelly welcomes Wiggs Civitillo, Founder and CEO of Starfish, for a conversation. Wiggs shares his background, experiences, and perspective, offering insight into his journey and the path that led him to where he is today. Through the discussion, listeners get to know Wiggs both personally and professionally, and hear his story in a natural, conversational way.
This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man and Ross the Produce Boss dive into the biggest fresh produce and food trends of 2025—and look ahead to what’s coming in 2026.From fresh-cut vs. bulk on the produce stand to mushrooms, berries, and the ever-growing wall of salads, we break down what’s hot, what’s changing, and what shoppers are actually buying.We also tackle the age-old question: how many servings of fruits and vegetables should you really be eating? Remember “five a day”? What exactly counts as a serving—and how much is enough?Plus, salad talk: how to dress your greens without drowning them in heavy, fatty dressings.It’s all right here on Fresh from the Field Fridays, from the Produce Industry Network, powered by AgLife Media.
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States