The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly

Join Patrick Kelly as he recaps the vibrant Viva Fresh 2026 showcase in San Antonio, highlighting the debut of Juicy the Mango and the impactful Water for All initiative. Hear insights from his keynote at the Pro Act conference on bridging generational gaps in leadership, plus behind-the-scenes moments from booths and industry leaders. Tune in for fresh industry stories and a sneak peek at upcomin...

This week on Fresh From the Field Fridays with Dan the Produce Man We’ve got Bei Bei Kabocha squash, baby fava beans, Seascape strawberries, first of the season California Tioga cherries, plus fresh California apricots, peaches, and purple asparagus It’s all right here - your produce market on the podosphere Fresh From the Field Fridays, from the Produce Industry Network, powered by Ag Life Media...

his week on the Global Fresh Series , we dive into how one everyday staple—tomatoes—has become a powerful symbol of today’s shifting food economy. While broader grocery inflation begins to cool, tomato prices are surging, revealing a perfect storm of converging forces behind the scenes. From tariffs on imported supply to rising diesel fuel costs and increasing fertilizer expenses, the pressure is...

Who is Bill Gates, the college dropout from Seattle who built the operating system of global capitalism - and then turned his restless, problem-solving mind to the oldest human activity of all: growing food? Why did his six-billion-dollar mission to end hunger in Africa leave more people hungry than before? And how does the story of one man's extraordinary ambition over the world's food supply ech...

Over the last few years Patrick has been educated on plastics, compostable packaging and innovations in the supply chain. Join host Patrick Kelly as he explores the growing movement of sustainability in the produce industry, focusing on breakthrough compostable packaging innovations from leaders like Sunrays and Jac. Vandenberg . Discover how industry pioneers are transforming packaging to reduce...

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays , Dan the Produce Man brings you four outstanding spring items that are sure to get your attention. First, we head into the tropical fruit world with the exotic and delicious longan . Then it’s off to Watsonville, California for beautiful red Little Gem lettuce and fresh new crop sugar snap peas . We also explain the difference between stringless and tradi...

Long before podcasts and digital media, Orion Samuelson mastered the art of connecting farm and consumer through the airwaves. As the iconic voice of WGN Radio, he translated complex agricultural issues into stories people could understand—and trust. This week on the Global Fresh Series , we examine how his approach to communication holds powerful lessons for today’s content creators, brands, and...

What is huitlacoche, the fungus that Indigenous farmers in Mexico gave thanks for at harvest - and that American agronomists spent a century trying to burn, quarantine, and breed out of existence? Why did two civilizations look at the same diseased corn cob and see, one, a seasonal gift, and the other, an agricultural catastrophe? And how does this strange, blackened organism open a window onto th...

Join host Patrick Kelly and longtime guest Michael Chavez from Golden Star Citrus as they delve into the escalating costs impacting growers, packers, and shippers across North America. This episode breaks down fuel, packaging, and operational pressures, exploring innovative strategies and industry collaboration needed to thrive amid tightening margins. Tune in for a grounded conversation on adapti...

This week on Fresh From the Field Fridays with Dan the Produce Man, we’re talking spring. Four items that are really shining right now. Savoy or Bloomsdale spinach, fresh harvested English peas, young spring radishes, and new crop California blueberries. Then we take a trip to the farmers market and catch up with Eric Arias of Castellano Farms out of Dinuba, California. He gives us an update on th...

Regenerative agriculture is no longer a niche concept—it’s becoming a defining force in the future of global fresh produce. In this episode of the Global Fresh Series, we explore how farmers, retailers, and multinational food companies are working together to restore soil health, improve resilience, and reshape supply chains from the ground up. From large-scale initiatives across Europe to retaile...

What is plastic, and how did a shortage of billiard balls accidentally give birth to the material that would feed the modern world? Why did a Belgian chemist rummaging through coal tar waste end up transforming the way humanity eats? And how does the unlikely journey from Victorian ivory substitutes to the clamshell of strawberries on your kitchen counter open a window onto the great forces of ind...

In this milestone episode celebrating six years of the Produce Industry Podcast, host Patrick Kelly welcomes Rob Austin, CEO of Empower Fresh , for an in-studio conversation about the transformative power of AI and hands-on training in the produce supply chain. Discover how Empower Fresh University is reshaping team training, driving consistency, and helping retailers reduce shrink with cutting-ed...

This week, we’re talking Gravenstein apples, a Sonoma County classic that is fading fast. Up in the Yuba City area, peach orchards - gone! At the same time, a whole wave of new fruit and berry varieties is coming your way. And in the bigger picture, restaurants are closing left and right. What is really going on out there? Plus, seasonal specialties like fiddlehead ferns and baby artichokes. And a...

his week on the Global Fresh Series, we dive into a major joint venture between two industry powerhouses that is set to redefine the fresh-cut fruit landscape in France. With a strategic location, integrated logistics, and a focus on convenience-driven consumption, this partnership highlights the rapid evolution of value-added produce across Europe. We explore what this means for suppliers, retail...

How did the humble date palm become entangled in the great age of empire? Why did steamships, railways, and the opening of the Suez Canal transform an ancient oasis crop into a global commodity? And how did a handful of date palms - smuggled across deserts, nearly lost to a curious dog, and later replanted in California - come to shape the modern global date industry? Join John and Patrick for the...

In this episode, Patrick Kelly dives into the recent silence in USDA's National FOB Review reports, exploring what it means for fresh produce market transparency and how industry professionals can adapt. From private data solutions to strategies for maintaining supply chain awareness, tune in to learn how buyers, sellers, and procurement managers can navigate this reporting gap with confidence. Re...

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man dives into what this early spring heat wave here in California could be doing to the cherry crop, those blossoms still hanging on, and how it may impact early stone fruit still on the trees. Then we head over to the produce table where he has purple snow peas, Padrón peppers, Ojai Pixie tangerines, jumbo heirloom artichokes, and red se...

How did a humble desert fruit help build some of the world’s earliest civilizations? Why did ancient farmers in Mesopotamia become master matchmakers for palm trees? And how did the date palm come to symbolize life, victory, and divine blessing across the ancient world? Join John and Patrick as they explore the astonishing origins of the date - from prehistoric hunter-gatherers and the orchards of...

Join host Patrick Kelly live from the vibrant Florida Citrus Tailgating event in Fort Pierce! In this episode, Quentin Roe co-hosts with Patrick on-site at the event. They chat with industry leaders and longtime friends about the latest in Florida citrus, community connections, and innovations shaking up the produce world. Grab a glass of fresh-squeezed juice and celebrate the spirit of Florida ci...

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays , Dan the Produce Man dives into St. Patrick’s Day cabbage —a classic that’s been showing up on produce stands and dinner tables for generations. Then we take a trip over to the San Francisco Ferry Plaza Farmers Market , where we talk with growers about Gem and Zutano avocados and what makes those varieties special. We also get into spring onions and the f...

What does a Roman emperor’s craving for cucumbers have to do with feeding eight billion people? How did a 15th-century Korean cookbook quietly invent heated agriculture centuries before Europe’s glass palaces? And how did Victorian spectacle, world wars, hydroponic ambition, and Dutch engineering transform the greenhouse from aristocratic indulgence into global infrastructure? Join John and Patric...

What does conflict in the Middle East have to do with the price of food on your table? More than you might think. In this episode of The Global Fresh Series , we explore how geopolitical tensions in the Persian Gulf—particularly disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz—are sending ripple effects through the global agriculture supply chain. While headlines often focus on rising oil prices, another criti...

Join host Patrick Kelly on-location at KDC in Vineland, New Jersey, for an exclusive deep dive into winter produce imports and family-run business excellence. Hear from industry leader William Kopke as he shares insights on building trust, operational innovation, and the future of fresh produce in a rapidly changing market. Discover what it takes to lead a global produce hub and why collaboration...

In this episode of the Global Fresh Series, we take you inside the energy and excitement of the SEPC Southern Exposure 2026 in Orlando, Florida—one of the fresh produce industry’s most anticipated gatherings of the year. From the vibrant trade show floor to meaningful conversations with growers, shippers, retailers, and innovators across the supply chain, this episode captures the spirit of collab...