The History of Fresh Produce

Of all the people that have ever lived, about 90% were hunter gatherers. These people were intimately connected with the wild, relying on a diverse array of plants for sustenance, possibly numbering in the hundreds or even thousands. Our ancestors thrived in a world rich in biodiversity. As the human species evolved and developed more advanced tools and technology, their bodies remained...

In this LIVE-STREAM John and Patrick cover the History of Produce Idioms. Are you Cool as a Cucumber, a bad apple, the apple of my eye or just BANANAS. Come join as we have some fun on The History of Fresh Produce.

We've heard about the storming of the Bastille, the countless heads that rolled off the guillotine, and Marie Antoinette's famous "Let them eat cake!" but what role did food and produce play during the French Revolution? Did crop failures lead to a 'hangry' mob of peasants? Why did vegetarianism become associated with revolutionaries?  Join John and Patrick as they discuss the...

In this LIVE-STREAM playback on the History of Fresh Produce we are looking into Civilizations Lost to Crop Failures. Are you ready to understand how crops can completely fail and recover and/ or never to be seen? John and Patrick uncover civilizations that you have heard and some that might make you scratch your head into existence. Take the time to learn about where your food really came from. T...

25,000 years ago as glaciers tore their way through North America, they left behind a unique mix of soil that only a few plants would thrive in. One of those first plants to adapt in this new terrain was the wild blueberry bush. But don't let the small size of this berry fool you. It's a fruit packed with history, wars and innovation. Join John and Patrick as they take us through the bar...

What could a History of Fresh Produce Club look like? What role did farming and produce have in solar eclipses throughout history? Who would've annexed Hawai'i if the US hadn't? Would pineapples still have been the big crop? Could the Sicilian Mafia still have been born without lemons? What crop had the biggest impact on history? And when did farmers and farming become perceived as less noble? Ins...

On the evening of April 14, 1912, passengers aboard the RMS Titanic sat down for what was to be their final meal on the 'unsinkable ship'. At 11:40pm, the Titanic scraped an iceberg and within hours sank to the bottom of the ocean. Today, the Titanic is one of the most romanticized and infamous ship sinkings in history. But what exactly did the passengers and crew eat on board this legendary ship?...

In this LIVE-STREAM, John and Patrick are back the day after St. Patrick's Day and no they are not hungover! That is right you guessed it we are uncovering St. Patrick's produce? Yes, we are going to unlock the secret of mysterious fruits during the holiday and the St. himself. Join Patrick and John as we uncover more of the history of fresh produce! Instagram: @historyoffreshproduce

Recognized today for their long ships, horned helmets, raiding and pillaging, the Vikings have a frightening reputation. But how much of what we see in movies is true? Were the Vikings truly meat-loving warriors? Or were they veggie loving farmers? Did they even have an agricultural sector in their society? In today's episode, John and Patrick are joined by the leading expert on Viking a...

From Al Capone to Tony Soprano, real life and fictional mafiosi have captured the public imagination for decades. Portrayed as thuggish, Italian American gangsters valuing “the family” above all else, Hollywood has certainly had an influence on how we think of the Mafia. But who exactly are the mafia? When did they come into existence? And what do they have to do with produce? Join John...

Since the founding of the United States, its Presidents have left their unique mark on American history. These leaders have influenced U.S. participation in global conflicts, social causes, domestic policies and even the food we eat. In today's bonus livestream episode, John and Patrick discuss the relationship that 10 former U.S. Presidents had with fresh produce and what we can le...

Long before Europeans set foot on the American continents, indigenous peoples had lived on these lands for thousands of years. In that time, the Native American peoples developed a rich, diverse collection of cultural traditions which, of course, included food. But what happened to those traditions when contact was made with Europeans? Would Native Americans be able to preserve their cul...

The Hawaiian islands have been annexed by the United States and an agriculture boom is underway. American entrepreneurs flood the shores of Hawaii in search of their fortune. But this comes at a cost to the indigenous Hawaiian peoples and their land. In today's episode, John and Patrick explore how the pineapple industry bursts onto the scene following the collapse of the Hawaiian monarchy an...

We've all heard about the hidden Mickeys and "easter eggs" in Disney movie classics but what about fresh produce? Food, especially produce, plays a pivotal role in many of these movies. It may not always be obvious but these foods tie in significant cultural and regional elements that help to paint a bigger picture of the characters and their setting. In today's bonus livestream episode, John and...

Tensions are rising between plantation owners and the Hawaiian monarchy. Plantation owners want the island nation to be annexed by the United States to further their wealth. The royalists want more agricultural diversity and power returned to the natives. Two groups but there can only be one victor. In today's episode, John and Patrick describe the pivotal point in Hawaiian history where annexatio...

King Kamehameha the Great has unified the Hawaiian islands and with it brings vast trade opportunities to European powers. Seeking to move away from a rest stop to a player in international trade, what does Hawaii have to offer to the world and what does it mean for their people and land? In today's episode, John and Patrick explore the extraordinary transition of the Hawaiian islands from a...

A paradise island chain in the middle of the Pacific remained in relative isolation for over 1,000 years until the controversial Captain Cook became the first recorded European to encounter what he called the Sandwich Islands. This encounter marked the beginning of the end of the sovereignty of what we now know as the Hawaiian islands. The story of Hawai'i is a tragic tale of violen...

Join Patrick and John in their very first History Of Fresh Produce bonus livestream, as they review the past year and what exciting topics they have planned for 2024. Instagram:@historyoffreshproduce

From the moment it landed on European shores in the early 16th century, the potato has been used as a political instrument. From the Age of Enlightenment to European empire and colonialism to the World Wars and beyond, the potato has arguably played every role between savior and enemy in its relatively short history on the global stage. Listen as John and Patrick are joined by historian...

In this new series of The Produce Industry Network we explore the history of Produce. In the modern world we live in with technology we as humans dont have a clue where our foods comes from. While some think everything is local and others worry about too many imports, what is the world coming to? Do you know what you are putting in your body? This new series is all about the global history of prod...

In this new series of The Produce Industry Network we explore the history of Produce. In the modern world we live in with technology we as humans dont have a clue where our foods comes from. While some think everything is local and others worry about too many imports, what is the world coming to? Do you know what you are putting in your body? This new series is all about the global history of prod...

In 1663, Hendrick Schoonmaker was granted 300 acres of land as payment for his military service in the Esopus Wars (1659-1663). By 1680, the Schoonmaker family was farming the land in what is today Accord, NY and continues to do so today. In fact, Saunderskill Farm is one of very few farms in the nation to receive the “Tricentennial Award” from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Join John as he s...

In this new series of The Produce Industry Network we explore the history of Produce. In the modern world we live in with technology we as humans dont have a clue where our foods comes from. While some think everything is local and others worry about too many imports, what is the world coming to? Do you know what you are putting in your body? This new series is all about the global history of prod...

Today is the July 24, 2023 and  we are bringing you a BONUS EPISODE exploring the life and history of the "Food Explorer", David Fairchild. But that's not all! We have a very special guest joining us. National bestselling writer and professor of environmental science and policy at The Johns Hopkins University Mr. Daniel Stone will be walking us through the adventures of Fa...

In this new series of The Produce Industry Network we explore the history of Produce. In the modern world we live in with technology we as humans dont have a clue where our foods comes from. While some think everything is local and others worry about too many imports, what is the world coming to? Do you know what you are putting in your body? This new series is all about the global history of prod...