The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly

In this episode of the Global Fresh Series, we begin with the curious and captivating story of French artist Agnès Varda, who transformed humble potatoes into symbols of beauty and individuality through her groundbreaking exhibit Patatutopia. From there, we shift from art to agriculture with a conversation just as colorful and insightful.Joining us is CarrieAnn Arias, President and CEO of USA Pears, a visionary leader with over 25 years of experience in global brand building. CarrieAnn shares her perspective on the state of the pear industry after a challenging season, consumer trends driving growth, and how health and wellness movements are reshaping demand.First Class Sponsor: Peak of the Market: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://peakofthemarket.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium Sponsor: Zag Technological Services, Inc.:  https://www.zagtech.com/ Premium Sponsor: Avocados from Colombia: https://avocadoscolombia.com/ Premium Sponsor: The Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation: https://fvdrc.com/  Global Women Fresh: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://globalwomenfresh.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

From the kitchens of medieval Europe to the orchards of Anglo-Saxon England, the apple became far more than just a fruit. It was medicine, it was myth, it was ritual. In part two of our apple series, John and Patrick explore how crab apples were pressed into sharp, sour verjuice to season everything from pigs’ feet to plague remedies, how Anglo-Saxon charms and midwinter wassailing blended Christianity with ancient fertility rites, and how monks carried apple cuttings—and their spiritual symbolism—across the continent. From the orchard-cemeteries of St. Gall to the fruit catalogues of Charlemagne, apples became embedded in the medieval imagination. And just as they took root in law codes, legends, and royal gardens, they also crept into the realm of story—appearing in myths of archers, kings, and poisoned fruit. Join John and Patrick as they uncover how the humble apple became a cornerstone of medieval life, belief, and lore…----------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 special on-the-road episode of The Produce Industry Podcast, Patrick Kelly teams up with Ross “The Produce Boss” as they hit the floor at SEPC 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina! 🎉Join us for exclusive interviews, live insights, and real-time reactions as we explore the hottest trends, innovative products, and standout booths at one of the most anticipated produce events of the year. From farm to table and everything in between, we’re bringing you the flavor, the energy, and the inside scoop—straight from the show floor.

This Week on Fresh from the Field FridaysRoss “The Produce Boss” Nelson and Dan “The Produce Man” Avakian share their top picks of the week!Ross dives into Moon Cherries, Baby Nibble Spuds cooked up on his Blackstone, and talks trends with vegetable consumption down and fruit consumption up. He also introduces his favorite new salad mix from Dole and explains why he’s still stashing berries in mason jars.Dan brings some fun and flavor with Butt-Crack Peaches, Rave Apples, Sommerfeld Apples, fresh bunched radishes, Concorde Grapes, fresh figs, Abate Fetel pears, and more!Get your shopping list ready — you’ll want to grab these fresh picks of the week. Tune in to Fresh from the Field Fridays, brought to you by The Produce Industry Network and AgLife Media.

In today’s captivating episode of the Global Fresh Series, Co-Founder and COO Xander Shapiro of Akorn Technology shares how his team has developed a revolutionary fresh fruit coating so natural and pure that he actually drinks it during the show! Xander explains the coating’s origins, crafted from natural plant based ingredients and non-GMO corn and how it delivers the highest quality produce with extended shelf life — up to 35 days longer. This breakthrough opens doors for growers and suppliers to access export markets once limited by perishability, reshaping opportunities in global produce trade, while reducing food waste.Tune in to hear how science, sustainability, and innovation come together to keep fruit fresher, longer.SPONSORS:First Class Sponsor: Peak of the Market: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://peakofthemarket.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium  Sponsor: Zag Technological Services, Inc.:  https://www.zagtech.com/ Premium Sponsor: Avocados from Colombia: https://avocadoscolombia.com/ Premium Sponsor: The Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation: https://fvdrc.com/  Global Women Fresh: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://globalwomenfresh.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Where did the apple come from, and how did it go from a sour, berry-sized wild fruit to the sweet, plump star of our fruit bowls today? Was it really bears (and their sweet tooth) that shaped its destiny? How did the mountains of Kazakhstan become the apple’s Garden of Eden, and what role did nomads, traders, and even the poets of Ancient Greece play in transforming it from wild crab to cultivated treasure? And why has this fruit, more than almost any other, become so entangled in our myths, our laws, and our imaginations?Join John and Patrick as they peel back the first layer of the apple’s astonishing story—from its tangled roots in Central Asia to its golden glow in the myths of Greece—in the opening episode of this epic five-part series.----------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 special episode of The Produce Industry Podcast, host Patrick Kelly travels to Winnipeg, Manitoba to meet with Pamela Kolochuk, CEO of Peak of the Market. Join Patrick on this Canadian adventure as he sits down with Pamela to discuss the heart of the produce industry in Manitoba, the unique challenges and opportunities of farming in the region, and how Peak of the Market continues to innovate while staying rooted in community and sustainability.

This week on Fresh From the Field Fridays, host Ross Nelson is joined by special co-host Patrick Kelly while on the road in Charlotte, NC! Together, they dig into what’s fresh from the fields and landing in your grocery stores right now.The conversation also explores rising consumer trends, with a spotlight on millennial purchase power, and wraps up with some key takeaways on how shoppers are choosing fresh vegetables today. Tune in for insights straight from the field to your table!

What does it take to build a global brand from the ground up—and do it while staying true to People, Planet, and Profit?In this episode, we sit down with a trailblazing leader who helped transform SanLucar Company into a world-renowned fruit brand and earning 100+ international awards for creativity and impact. As a former Global Brand Director & Leadership Team Member, she led teams across the globe, proving that resilience, vision, and purpose-driven leadership can shape industriesToday, she’s not just a brand builder—she’s a voice amplifier. With a LinkedIn community of 21,000+ professionals, she is on a mission to empower women in agriculture and beyond, showing that strong brands and strong female voices go hand in hand.

Europe’s orchards and fields are buzzing with big harvest news. Crossing the continent we take a look at the EU’s fresh vegetable and fruits which commodities and countries were the top producers. Vegetable harvests rose while it was a contrasting story for EU fruit production. Against this backdrop, Germany is breaking the trend: its apple growers expect a record 2025 harvest of over 1 million tonnes. We will break out the German apple growing regions along with the numbers. Join us on the Global Fresh Series as we connect the dots across Europe’s fresh produce landscape and explore what’s shaping the future of fruit and vegetable harvests.Sponsors:First Class Sponsor: Peak of the Market: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://peakofthemarket.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium Sponsor: Zag Technological Services, Inc.:  https://www.zagtech.com/ Premium Sponsor: Avocados from Colombia: https://avocadoscolombia.com/ Premium Sponsor: The Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation: https://fvdrc.com/  Global Women Fresh: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://globalwomenfresh.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What do Afghan purple roots, Roman aphrodisiacs, Dutch horticulturalists, and wartime propaganda have in common? The answer: the carrot. From its wild ancestor Daucus carota scattered across Europe 10,000 years ago, to its starring role as Britain’s unlikely weapon in the Second World War, the carrot’s journey has been anything but straightforward. Once confused with parsnips, praised by Dioscorides for its medicinal powers, and supposedly beloved by Caligula for rather different reasons, the carrot slowly transformed from a bitter, scraggly root into the sweet orange staple we know today. Along the way it fed peasants, adorned Renaissance paintings, crossed oceans with colonists, and became the poster-child of Ministry of Food propaganda. Join John and Patrick as they unearth the remarkable history of the carrot - a story of medicine, myth, empire, science, and survival - that reveals how this humble vegetable helped shape diets and imaginations across the world.----------In Sponsorship with J&K Fresh.The customs broker who is your fruit and veggies’ personal bodyguard. Learn more here!-----------Ever see a shirt that you could just eat it? Well, this New Jersey family-run business may just be it! Visit EatShirts here to order your favorite fruit or veggies shirt!-----------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 welcomes Frank Kenney of Cleo to discuss how global economics, tariffs, and trade policies are impacting both the alcohol and produce industries. From supply chains to pricing, this episode offers a sharp look at how two seemingly different sectors face similar global challenges.

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man and Ross the Produce Boss share some of their top picks of the week. They’re joined byaward-winning organic retail consultant, educator, and advocate, and the owner of Organic Options Mark Mulcahy.Mark brings the latest on what’s tasting great right now — like dry-farmed early-grown tomatoes and even dry-farmed variety melons grown in Oregon. He also talks about the Rising Stars program, a collaborative effort that’s helped over 2,500 produce and fresh food managers grow and thrive in the industry.Tune in for all this and more — only on Fresh from the Field Fridays, brought to you by The Produce Industry Network and AgLife Media.

From 3D printers turning food waste into useful products to drones flying over fields and orchards, agri-tech is reshaping the way we grow, move, and sustain fresh produce. In this episode of the Global Fresh Series, host Juanita Gaglio explores how technology is transforming agriculture on the ground and in the sky. Hear how drones in China covered 173 million hectares in 2024, slashing crop losses and creating new jobs, while 3D printing is reimagining sustainability in food systems. It’s innovation with real-world impact — and a glimpse into the future of farming. First Class Sponsor: Peak of the Market: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://peakofthemarket.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium  Sponsor: Zag Technological Services, Inc.:  https://www.zagtech.com/ Premium Sponsor: Avocados from Colombia: https://avocadoscolombia.com/ Premium Sponsor: The Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation: https://fvdrc.com/  Global Women Fresh: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://globalwomenfresh.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Where does soil come from? How has it shaped the rise (and fall) of human civilizations? And why is it now at the center of some of the most urgent debates about food, farming, and the environment?Join John and special guest Louis De Jaeger - landscape architect, author, and agro-ecology advocate - as they dig into the history of soil. Together, they trace the story of soil from the birth of the Earth’s crust to the collapse of ancient empires. They explore how the forced removal of Indigenous peoples and their agricultural wisdom devastated soils in the Americas, how the transition from farming to eat to farming to export led to catastrophes like the Dust Bowl, and how industrial agriculture, monocultures, and the rise of pesticides became the norm.Why did the Green Revolution sow the seeds of ecological damage while trying to feed the world? What was behind the 1970s mantra "Get big or get out"? How are globalization, technology, and today’s protests across Europe connected to centuries of soil mismanagement? And most importantly, where do we go from here?----------Order Louis De Jaeger's NEW book: Save Our Soils: How regenerative food and farming will save your health and the planetVisit Louis' website at www.louisdj.com----------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.-----------Step into history - literally! Now is your chance to own a pair of The History of Fresh Produce sneakers. Fill out the form here and get ready to walk through the past in style.-----------Instagram, TikTok, Threads:@historyoffreshproduceEmail: historyoffreshproduce@gmail.com

In this inspiring episode of The Produce Industry Podcast, host Patrick Kelly sits down with Jorge Rodriguez of BLUE Missions to explore the powerful intersection of produce, purpose, and clean water.Learn how BLUE Missions is working to end the global water and sanitation crisis by connecting communities in Latin America with sustainable infrastructure—and how the produce industry is playing a part in that mission. Dives into the roots of the organization, the incredible impact they've made, and the personal stories that drive their team forward.We also take a closer look at BLUE’s Annual Hike for Water in the Dominican Republic—an eye-opening journey that brings people face-to-face with the communities they’re supporting, all while trekking through breathtaking landscapes.

In this special collaboration with History Daily, we present a double feature exploring two pivotal moments in history.First, you’ll hear the story of Lewis and Clark’s return after successfully completing the first U.S. overland journey to the Pacific Ocean.Then, you’ll learn how French biologist Louis Pasteur developed a method of heating liquids to destroy harmful bacteria - a process that would come to bear his name.Hear more episodes from History Daily 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.-----------Step into history - literally! Now is your chance to own a pair of The History of Fresh Produce sneakers. Fill out the form here and get ready to walk through the past in style.-----------Instagram, TikTok, Threads:@historyoffreshproduceEmail: historyoffreshproduce@gmail.com

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, we’re going ape for grapes! Ross “The Produce Boss” Nelson and Dan “The Produce Man” Avakian welcome Jim Beagle from Grapery.Jim shares his journey from working the fields at age five with his dad to becoming CEO of Grapery—still walking the rows every day with his crew. You’ll hear how rich dialogue with consumers keeps Grapery in tune with shopper expectations, and Jim’s core advice: do the job right every day, be consistent, and deliver the experience shoppers can count on.We dive into: The intensity and precision of meticulous hand harvesting Why Grapery lets grapes ripen longer for maximum flavor The systems that ensure bunches are picked at peak maturity Grapery’s world travels to find wild grape species with amazing flavor, bred into seedless varieties (all non-GMO) Flavor explosions ranging from tropical notes to Stone fruit sweetnessIt’s a masterclass in flavor, farming, and consistency—all right here on Fresh from the Field Fridays from The Produce Industry Network and AgLife Media.

In this episode of the Global Fresh Series, host Juanita Gaglio takes a crisp bite into the world of apples — one of the most iconic and widely consumed fruits on the planet. From global production statistics to surprising consumption trends, Juanita explores where apples stand in the produce industry and why they continue to dominate grocery aisles year after year. You'll hear about top-producing countries, how apple varieties shape market demand, and what trends are influencing growers, retailers, and consumers alike.First Class Sponsor: Peak of the Market: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://peakofthemarket.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium  Sponsor: Zag Technological Services, Inc.:  https://www.zagtech.com/ Premium Sponsor: Avocados from Colombia: https://avocadoscolombia.com/ Premium Sponsor: The Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation: https://fvdrc.com/  Global Women Fresh: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://globalwomenfresh.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On July 8th, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the administration is determined to reclaim farmland owned by what it calls "foreign adversaries" and to establish a "100% American workforce" in agriculture.But how much U.S. farmland is actually owned by foreign governments?When did this trend begin?Has there ever truly been a 100% American agricultural workforce?And when did immigrants first begin working on American farms?In this month’s livestream, John and Patrick dive into the historical roots of these questions, unpack the claims made by the current Trump administration, and explore what this could mean for the future of American agriculture.----------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.-----------Step into history - literally! Now is your chance to own a pair of The History of Fresh Produce sneakers. Fill out the form here and get ready to walk through the past in style.-----------Instagram, TikTok, Threads:@historyoffreshproduceEmail: historyoffreshproduce@gmail.com