The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly

Brazil is one of the world’s largest exporters of fresh produce — but how is it balancing global demand with sustainability? In this episode of the Global Women Fresh Podcast, we sit down with Priscilla Nasrallah to explore Brazil’s role in shaping the future of global food supply. From the country’s strengths as a fresh produce powerhouse to the challenges of climate change, innovation, and susta...

Anaheim buzzed with color, culture, and collaboration as the world’s fresh-produce leaders gathered for  IFPA 2025 . Join  The Global Fresh Series  as host, Juanita Gaglio recaps the show’s standout booths, boldest ideas, and inspiring speakers — from CarrieAnn Arias’s pear renaissance to ZAG’s call for digital defense. It’s a vibrant, flavor-packed journey through the heart of fres...

From myth and legend to cider-fuelled revolutions, from Johnny Appleseed’s frontier orchards to the Victorians’ quest for the perfect pippin, the story of the apple has been anything but ordinary. In the final part of this five-part series, John and Patrick follow the fruit onto the world stage - when refrigeration, global shipping, and empire transformed it into an international commodity. From T...

Join Patrick Kelly , Juanita Gaglio , and Dan “The Produce Man” as they hit the floor at the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) 2025 Global Produce & Floral Show in Anaheim, California ! In Part 1 of this special event series, the team brings you exclusive access, behind-the-scenes insights, and real-time reactions from one of the produce industry’s most anticipated gatherings. Fro...

This Week on Fresh from the Field Fridays! With Dan the Produce Man and Ross the Produce Boss Ross breaks down some Blackstone cooking and cleaning tips that’ll make your next backyard session a breeze, while Dan takes us back to pumpkin season memories at Dan’s Fresh Produce - kids’ field trips, big smiles, and a few pumpkin-handling tips for shoppers too (keep those pretty stems intact!). We’ve...

In this episode of  The Global Fresh Series , we journey to the breathtaking region of South Tyrol, Italy — home to some of the world’s most celebrated apples. Our guest,  Hannes Tauber , Marketing Manager and CMO of  VOG – Home of Apples , shares his deep-rooted passion for apples, from bringing a sommelier event to apples to the growers who cultivate them, and the generations of t...

From the barefoot wanderings of Johnny Appleseed to the fiery kick of applejack on Civil War battlefields, the apple’s story in America takes a dramatic turn in this fourth episode of our series. John and Patrick trace how John Chapman’s seed-planting helped shape frontier life, fueled the nation’s cider culture, and - ironically - set the stage for America’s drinking frontier. But the apple’s jou...

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast , host Patrick Kelly sits down with a longtime industry voice to talk all things fresh produce and preview the highly anticipated IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show . They explore what attendees should be excited about — from emerging trends and innovations to the invaluable networking opportunities on the show floor. Plus, they dive into a few of...

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays: Ross the Produce Boss is flying solo while Dan is visiting the Bay Area terminal produce markets. Ross is live from Indianapolis, Indiana , where he describes his visit to Tuttle Orchards in Greenfield —sampling some fantastic cider, Pixie Crunch apples , and Ludacrisp apples with an absolutely majestic crunch! He also digs into apple cider donuts , check...

Broadcasting from vibrant Madrid, Spain; this episode of  The Global Fresh Series  takes you inside the magic of  Fruit Attraction 2025 , where innovation and heritage collide in the world of fresh produce.  Join host  Juanita Gaglio  as she paints the scene of a show pulsing with connection, culture, and creativity — from the buzzing halls of IFEMA to an unforgettabl...

John and Patrick journey into the seventeenth century, when cider wasn’t just a drink - it was a matter of national survival. From John Evelyn’s bold call for apple orchards to secure England’s navy and replace French wine, to the early experiments that nearly made England the home of “apple champagne,” the apple takes centre stage in politics, science, and patriotism. But apples weren’t only abou...

This week, Patrick Kelly sits down with Silvia Restrepo, a prominent leader in agricultural education and research from Cornell University. Together, they discuss how education is shaping the future of agriculture, from empowering the next generation of industry professionals to fostering innovation and sustainability. Silvia shares insights into the evolving role of universities in supporting the...

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays! Ross the Produce Boss is fresh back from Idaho with an inside look at the onion harvest—how they’re sorted, sized, packed, and stored for the season. We’ve both got garden updates: in Dan’s backyard, the Bosc pear tree is loaded with beautiful golden-russet fruit. We’ll also share how to tell the difference between when Bartlett-type pears and variety pea...

In this episode of the Global Fresh Series, we sit down with Dave McCary of ZAG Technical Services to explore how cybersecurity and ransomware are reshaping the fresh produce industry. From recent high-profile attacks on produce companies to the hidden vulnerabilities in supply chains, Dave shares why protecting data and operations is just as critical as protecting the crops themselves. We discuss...

Apples are one of those rare fruits that you can actually recognize by name. Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji… the list seems endless. But have you ever wondered where these names came from? Is there an actual 'granny' behind the Granny Smith? Was the Red Delicious truly the most delicious of all red apples? And what about Bramley - does that name come from a person, a place, or perhaps an aristocratic fami...

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast , host Patrick Kelly sits down with Anne Marie to explore how the next generation is stepping up to shape the future of fresh produce. As the industry experiences a generational handoff, Anne Marie brings a fresh perspective on what the future holds—from evolving consumer values and sustainability to digital transformation and leadership styles. It’s...

It’s the first Friday of fall, and Ross “The Produce Boss” and Dan “The Produce Man” are reminiscing about their retail display days — back when fall produce departments came alive with vibrant displays of pumpkins, gourds, apples, and squashes. Dan shares an important tip: when buying pumpkins, never pick them up by the stem — the weight of the pumpkin can snap it right off! Ross dives into a swe...

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 , Preside...

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 Christi...

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. Fr...

This Week on Fresh from the Field Fridays Ross “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...

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 th...

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 cra...

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 in...

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...