The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly

Join host Patrick Kelly as he takes you through the bustling Philadelphia port and beyond to explore the unparalleled Summer Citrus program from South Africa. Featuring exclusive insights from importers, logistics experts, and growers, discover how quality, consistency, and seamless collaboration bring the world's finest citrus to American tables each summer. Don't miss this deep dive into the sup...

Join host Patrick Kelly as he sits down with Mary Mooney , CEO of Mooney Farms, to explore the inspiring family story behind one of California's most iconic produce companies. Discover how a struggling kiwi orchard blossomed into the world's largest sun-dried tomato processor and learn about the grit, innovation, and dedication to quality that drives their success. Don't miss this deep dive into i...

In this insightful second part of our conversation with industry veteran Dino Cardelli , we dive into the future of produce procurement education through his innovative Juice Knowledge platform. Discover how this comprehensive course equips the next generation of procurement and sales professionals with essential industry vocabulary, real-world insights, and technical know-how to navigate the evol...

Join Patrick Kelly as he kicks off a two-part series with industry veteran Dino Cardelli, a global procurement powerhouse with over 40 years in juice, ingredients, and the fresh produce supply chain experience. Dive deep into the evolving citrus market, supply chain innovations, and insider stories from major brands like Coca-Cola and Tropicana. Perfect for anyone looking to understand the rapid c...

The Super El Niño is officially here — and scientists say it may be the strongest ever recorded. In this episode, Patrick Kelly breaks down what a “very strong” El Niño means for fall and winter weather, global agriculture, and the future of fresh produce. We dive into the science behind El Niño — how NOAA defines it, why the Walker Circulation matters, and why the World Meteorological Organizatio...

Join host Patrick Kelly as he reconnects with industry veteran Tony Stackhurski, now leading a major mushroom farm, to dive deep into the evolving mushroom market. Discover the challenges of mushroom farming, supply shifts, and why the category needs a fresh perspective and renewed advocacy. This episode offers valuable insights for retailers, growers, and produce enthusiasts aiming to understand...

Join host Patrick Kelly as he dives into the vital role propane plays in American agriculture with special guests NASCAR driver and eighth-generation watermelon farmer Ross Chastain and Suburban Propane CEO Michael Stivala. Together they talk partnership, fueling American agriculture and partnership that complement each other. Discover how propane fuels farms, supports rural communities, and even...

Join host Patrick Kelly as he takes you behind the scenes at the New England Produce Show 2026, sharing exclusive interviews with industry leaders from JOH and top vendors. Discover the latest product innovations, partnership stories, and how collaboration is shaping the future of the produce supply chain. Don't miss this deep dive into the vibrant world of fresh produce and supply chain connectio...

Join host Patrick Kelly as he sits down with Brendan A. Niemira, PhD from the Institute of Food Technologists to explore the science behind food innovation, the evolving FDA rules on Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) ingredients, and the debated definition of ultra processed foods. Whether you’re in produce, product development, or just a curious consumer, this episode clears up misconceptions a...

Join Patrick Kelly on the Produce Industry Podcast for a deep dive into three critical produce topics shaking the supply chain: the mushroom industry's tariff challenges and farm closures, the USDA suspension halting Michoacán avocado shipments, and the dynamic week 33 mango market update featuring Mexican and Brazilian supplies. Stay informed on how these events impact retail and food service, an...

Join host Patrick Kelly and special guest Amanda Horney of Zeno Fresh as they dive into the fast-evolving world of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) recycling laws and packaging compliance impacting the produce industry. From sustainability challenges to the complexities of fresh lime supply from Mexico, this episode offers vital insights for growers, packers, and suppliers aiming to stay com...

Join Patrick Kelly and special guest Judd Bare from Georgia Ports as they explore the Port of Savannah’s rise as North America’s third largest port complex and a fresh produce shipping powerhouse. Discover how investments in refrigerated infrastructure and strategic location are offering importers a fresher, faster, and cheaper alternative for regional distribution. Tune in to hear insights on col...

In this eye-opening episode of the Produce Industry Podcast, host Patrick Kelly sits down with California grower Cesar Mora to discuss a high-stakes legal battle involving a proprietary fruit variety and the struggles faced by growers in the complex produce supply chain. Cesar shares his firsthand experience battling a major marketing company, revealing the risks, mistrust, and industry dynamics t...

Join Patrick Kelly and co-host Ross Nelson as they welcome Dean Fahselt of River Fresh Farms to delve into the dynamic world of wet vegetables. Discover how this nimble, minority-owned company is tackling extreme weather, supply chain challenges, and expanding into value-added products. Tune in for insider insights on market trends, crop rotation, and the future of freshness in produce supply. #fr...

Why did the man who just conquered India weep over a melon — and what does that tell us about the fruit that travelers from Ibn Battuta to Victorian cavalry officers have been stopping their journeys to describe for seven centuries? How did the river valleys of what is now Uzbekistan become the origin point of every sweet melon on Earth, and the crossroads through which paper-making, Islam, and Bu...

Why did 27 words buried in a Bavarian price regulation from 1516 become the most famous food law in history — and why did it take 402 years for anyone to give it the name that made it sound ancient and inevitable? What was in German beer before hops arrived, why did the Church control it, and how did switching ingredients become an act of theological protest during the Reformation? And how did Bav...

Why did a blacksmith hide six cocoa pods under his tools to smuggle them past Spanish customs — and how did those six pods become the foundation of an industry that today supplies sixty percent of the world's chocolate? Who was Tetteh Quarshie, the man who spent six years watching cocoa grow on a plantation island before bringing the knowledge home to Ghana, and why has the credit for what he did...

Why did the potato blight begin in Belgium before it reached Ireland — and why has the Flemish famine of 1845, which killed tens of thousands and stunted a generation, been almost entirely forgotten while the Irish catastrophe became the defining tragedy of a nation? What destroyed the linen industry of Flanders before the blight even arrived, and how did that earlier catastrophe turn a regional f...

Why did the most productive colony in the entire world — generating 40 percent of Europe's sugar from an area the size of Maryland — become the site of the only successful slave revolution in human history? How did a Vodou ceremony in a forest clearing, a Stoic-reading formerly enslaved general, and yellow fever combine to defeat Napoleon's army and reshape the political geography of North America...

Why does the most extravagant opera house in the history of South America sit in the middle of the Amazon rainforest — and how did a wild tree, a Connecticut hardware merchant's accident, and a debt bondage system built on human misery pay for Italian marble, Murano chandeliers, and a ceiling painted in Paris to look like the underside of the Eiffel Tower? Who was Henry Wickham, the man who took 7...

Join host Patrick Kelly and special guest Meghan Diaz from Sprouts Farmers Markets as they explore the evolving definitions of local and hyperlocal produce, the importance of building sustainable ecosystems, and the future of fresh food sourcing. Discover how Sprouts' innovative strategies support growers, embrace regional diversity, and aim to transform the produce industry for consumers nationwi...

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays , Dan the Produce Man brings you four groovy goodies for your 4th of July weekend. No watermelons. No corn. Just four fantastic summertime favorites. We're talking legendary Brandywine heirloom tomatoes and why they're considered by many to be the best tasting tomato ever grown. Then it's the king of pluots. Which one is it? You'll have to stick around and...

Why do Bosnian Muslims make and celebrate a plum brandy that Islamic law technically forbids — and what does their answer to that question reveal about four centuries of Ottoman rule, Balkan identity, and the extraordinary weight of contingency behind things that seem simple? How did the Ottomans simultaneously bring distillation to the Balkans, prohibit alcohol, and shape the culture that would e...

Why did a Portuguese colonial sugar ban inadvertently create Cape Verde's national spirit — and what does it reveal about how cultures find ways through every door that's closed to them? How did ten uninhabited volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic become the birthplace of a creole language, a music of longing, and a sugarcane brandy whose flavour is specific to each valley's microbes? An...

Why did a Greek historian standing at the foot of the Great Pyramid in 450 BC record that its builders were fed on onions, garlic, and radishes — and what does the archaeology say about whether he was right? Who were the people who actually built the pyramids, and what does a daily logbook written by a middle-ranking official called Merer, found in a Red Sea harbour in 2013, tell us about the grea...