The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly we chat with Will Cavan the Founder of the International Mango Organization (IMO) and the International Pineapple Organization (IPO). Now if you don't know I work with Will at the International Pineapple Organization as the Director of Innovation, but today we are going to talk all things of the Mango! Will gives a great market updat...

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly we are in Day one of PMA #FRESHSUMMIT where the schedule is jam packed from the State of the Union w/ Cathy Burns, Theme for the day is Leadership, PMA Fresh Summit Marketplace, Around the world in Fresh Produce on International Challenges and Opportunities and more! We also saw a lot of innovation at the Product showcases and innova...

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast with Patrick Kelly we talk all things Produce Marketing Association (PMA). This week the PMA has their virtual #FRESHSUMMIT conference from October 13-15, 2020. We first take the time and chat with long time participant and Chef at the PMA Chef Megan, Founder of www.healthyeating101.com. Chef Megan and I talk about healthy living and why she started...

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly we chat with Elad Mardix  President of Clarifruit! Elad and I talk about the new technology his company has brought to the Produce Industry. Based in Isreal Elad and his team have put us one step into the future with produce QC. Quality control is a crucial part in our industry and as we send inspectors out for each every P...

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly we chat with Cristina Lihaceanu Sales Manager of Terra Exports Europe Division and Dan The Produce Man Avakian ! Between these two we travel across two continents starting in Italy and making our way all the way to the coast of California. Our Fancy Partner Terra Exports Cristina Lihaceanu kicks off episode 52 off from...

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly we chat with our first ever retailer! Let's take a moment that GROCERY OUTLET is the FIRST EVER RETAIL GUEST ON THE SHOW! We are very humbled and proud that we are reaching different levels of our industry. During this episode Matt Reeves, VP of Produce of Grocery Outlet chats about the unique buying structure, the current openings o...

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast with Patrick Kelly we complete Day 4 of United Fresh's Washington Policy Conference. As I explain in the podcast this Virtual March on Capitol Hill goes on Tomorrow and all through next week September 28-Oct 2, 2020. We chat about the day's opening General Session with Representative Jimmy Panetta and Representative Rodney Davis , reviewing our Whole...

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast with Patrick Kelly we complete DAY 3 of United Fresh Washington Policy Conference. Today we go through the General Session with Ray Starling from the Republican Party and Tom Vilsack of the Democratic Party Campaign giving their views on what it will look like with their parties President elected as well as the Fresh-Cut Processor Board meeting. We a...

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly we recognize that it is Day 2 of the United Fresh Washington Policy Conference.  Patrick will review the Opening Session with Tom Stenzel , President of United Fresh, Chairman Of United Fresh Michael Muzyk and our key guest Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue . We will review the general session, the grower-shipper meeting, on...

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly we cover the Washington Policy Conference w/ United Fresh, Day 1. Today we give a general overview of the entire virtual conference from September 21- 25, 2020.  We also speak to Mark Klompien, President/CEO of United Potato Growers of America on the importance of The United Fresh Policy Conference. Mark and I talk about my day'...

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly we have our Fancy and Choice partner on today represented by Yulia Kalina of Terra Exports and Matt DeBoer of AgTools.  We have also included our featured guest Mary Blackmon, Founder of Farm Star Living. We are about to embark on some fund conversations with these 3 talking about 4th generation farming, how you get into this pr...

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly we chat with Ross Nelson the Director of Retail Execution for Indianapolis Fruit Company. Ross is going to give us a quick APPLE UPDATE - There are 3 states that are going to be starting apples soon with many varieties that I have never even heard of. What states are these New York, Michigan and Washington - thats right these 3 state...

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast with Patrick Kelly we chat with Robert Schueller, Director of Public Relations at Melissa's Produce. Now Melissa's.com has over 1, 500 items that are readily available for shipping! Some of these products include, shallots, onions, hatch pepper popcorn, hatch peppers, salsa, beans, seasonings and more. Robert and Patrick talk about some items that ha...

In this unique episode with Roger Pepperl and Chris Veillon we have some side conversation that started as a post on LInkedIn: The power of #networking at its finest - I also said it was a #serendipity moment - saw and learned so much from these two it was incredible. Stemilt Growers Pure Hothouse Foods Inc.| Pure Flavor® What are your expectations? Are industry associations meeting your needs? Is...

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly we chat with Wendy McManus, Leadership Coach of Connect2Potential. Wendy McManus believes that thriving teams are the key to stellar results. As a leadership coach, she draws out the true genius in her clients, so they become more confident and capable leaders of their own thriving teams. Her focus is on mental fitness which is the a...

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly we have our Choice Partner's Matt DeBoer from Ag Tools helping introduce Belmark, Inc. Ag Tools was The Produce Industry Podcast's first Partner and we are truly proud and appreciative towards their entire team. Now in this episode Matt and I discuss a few topics regarding data, insights, love for the industry and being a partner on...

The youngest of 21 children, Sarah Frey grew up on a struggling farm in Southern Illinois. At 15, she started her own fresh produce delivery business out of an old pickup truck. Two years later she took over the family farm and started doing business with the largest grocery retailers in the country. Frey’s story is one of never giving up, negotiating with some of the biggest businesses in the nat...

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly Greg White and Scott Luton from Supply Chain Now CO-HOST the show learning more about the entire CITRUS supply chain. Now these two are not newbies to the supply chain world and know and have some subject matter expertise within our discussion. So, who better to talk about the Citrus supply chain than Golden Star Citrus. Golden Star...

In this episode with The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly - Ross Nelson Subject Matter Expert in The Produce and Supply Chain Industry helps Co-Host and introduces the podcast. Lee Seeward, Founder of Gro-Connect site that brings produce professionals together that help make proper purchasing, freight and overall smarter decisions when making deals. Lee and Patrick talk about the platform...

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly we chat with Randy Hartmann, President of Pacific Pro. Patrick and Randy talk about adapting and pivoting through the COVID-19 pandemic, the Farmers to Families Box Program, upcoming summer fruits, and really diving deep into our supply chain and leadership. I want to thank Randy Hartmann and his team at Pac Pro Sales for their conti...

Welcome back to Today's Special on National Watermelon Day! Today on The Produce Industry Podcast we chat with Mollie Van Lieu, Senior Director - Nutrition Policy on the Farmers to Families Box Program. The USDA is in Round 3 of the bids and are doing things a bit differently, how to review and access the RFP, time frames, a little history on round 1 and 2 and why this program is important to our...

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly we celebrate NATIONAL WATERMELON DAY!!! That's right today Aug 3, 2020 is National Watermelon Day! Now during this call Megan and Patrick discuss all things Watermelon or as they call it WATERMELON TALK!!! Megan discussed that #watermeloneveryday not just on it's national day, upcoming varieties throughout the summer, our favorite wa...

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly we chat with Lori Castillo, Vice President of Marketing of Nature Sweet Tomatoes. Lori and Patrick talk about how we met through the United Fresh Live Virtual Showcase during the month of June, How Nature Sweet sets themselves apart from their competitors, some sweet summer recipes, and few opportunities through innovation in 2020. L...

In this Episode of The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly we review Day 4 in a very small way and let our guest play a part in a very BIG WAY. We are going to hear from Chef's, Authors, and organizations that are in The Produce Industry. This was so a fruitful today and speaking to all of the guest was great satisfaction. Join us for fun interviews and see you tomorrow for DAY 5!  1:53...

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly we cover the PMA FOODSERVICE DELIVERED VIRTUAL CONFERENCE. We are in Day 3 of this virtual event and The Chef's table has been lit the entire week so far. Today Patrick talks to Victoria Lopez of Fox Packaging and Fox Solutions on how the show is going as well as Patrick Cortez of Mission Produce and Aidan Mouat of Hazel Technolgies...