The Produce Moms Podcast

"As soon as the student steps into their first family and consumer sciences class, oftentimes that teacher can be a pivoting point for the student." Sandy Spavone (15:29-15:41)   FCCLA is the Family Career and Community Leaders of America which touches over 5,400 family and consumer sciences teachers across the US and connects with students to prepare them for careers with family and consumer scie...

"I quickly learned that physically, we can heal very quickly from anything. I started to become a true believer."    Beth McCarthy Smith (7:10-7:19)   Beth McCarthy Smith, founder of Simplicity Holistic Health, used to consider herself a typical American. Having the occasional martini and burger, wining and dining clients, and not putting much thought into what went in her body was Beth's lifestyl...

"We have found through research that the majority of states are recording a significant shortage in family and consumer sciences teachers to be able to fill the void within the classroom."     Dr. Carol Werhan (7:05-7:18)   Dr. Carol Werhan and Alyson McIntyre-Reiger are both former family and consumer sciences teachers who are now passionately doing all they can with the FCCLA to help put an end...

"Our company is not just about making our products. What we really stand for is having a chance to have an impact." Stephanie Paxton-Johnson (18:47-19:11) There's a product that you've interacted with countless times, that's probably in your home right now, and plays a very important role in food safety throughout the entire food supply chain, reducing food waste, our carbon footprint, ending huma...

"We really want to solve this mission. We can make the supply chain efficient and not have to exist in this space, but to do that, it requires having everyone be aware of what's going on and why we need to care about it." Rani Zimand (6:04-6:20)   Jacob Dudley, a student at the University of Wisconsin Madison studying economics and environmental studies, and Rani Zimand, a student at the Universit...

"Our family and consumer sciences professionals are on the front lines solving some of society's most pressing issues." Dr. Lori Myers (3:06-3:14)   When you think of family and consumer sciences, you might recall your middle school or high school home economics class and learning things like how to cook, sew or the importance of the nutrition pyramid. But this umbrella of education is so much mor...

"Remember that health is a journey; make it your life's journey to invest in your health." Dr. Susan Hewlings (31:21-31:22)   Is there anything Dr. Susan Hewlings hasn't accomplished!? Dr. Hewlings has a PhD in Nutrition, a Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology, is a Registered Dietician, full-time professor at Central Michigan University, has a graduate certificate in cannabis science, and is an...

"We have plenty of ketchup for everyone."   Colt Reichart (8:55-8:56)   All it took was one small statement from Heinz ketchup and the world was worried our fries, burgers, steaks and more would have to be consumed without our favorite condiment.   Thankfully, the false alarm of there being a ketchup shortage has worked in Red Gold's favor. The only American owned, grown and made ketchup brand, Re...

"We're not all trying to be Navy SEALS or Chris Hemsworth. Focus on moving better, staying mobile and understanding what your goals are." DaRulk (14:26-14:37)   Joseph Sakoda, aka DaRulk happens to be Chris Hemsworth's trainer, but that's just the icing on the cake to what this incredibly inspirational man does! DaRulk has founded the Raw Functional Training program, is a teacher on Chris's Centr...

"We wanted to offer a product that makes the user say, 'I can't believe this isn't plastic!'" Tim Busby (9:49-10:01) When John Oakley and Tim Busby came together to create Matter™, they were dead set on creating a product that can truly be a one-to-one alternative to single use plastics. Matter™ products are biodegradable, free from heavy metals, FDA approved and making it easy for you to improve...

"When you give a child a thirty second rundown of what food paint is, they understand it immediately and cannot wait to get their hands on it. All they hear is, 'this stuff's fun!'"    Tomo Delaney (4:42-4:59)   After leaving a 22-year long career in the fashion industry as a photographer and producer, Tomo Delaney became the stay-at-home parent for his two kids. The problem Tomo was facing, like...

"The most important message for people to take is that you have an incredible amount of control over your mental health and your brain health."    Drew Ramsey (3:48-3:57) Dr. Drew Ramsey, MD, psychiatrist, teacher, TEDx speaker, author of four books, and leading innovator in mental health, is bridging the gap between the food we eat and the way it impacts our happiness. What if the key to improvin...

"What we're all about is rescuing produce that is at risk of going to waste because of imperfections." Ashley Weingart (2:53-3:03)   Ashley Weingart never set out to create a business, she just wanted to find a solution to a huge produce waste problem. While working for her husband's family business Weingart Produce, Ashley would visit farms and witness firsthand the shocking amount of produce tha...

"We realize that they are the ones with the skills. They have been working for a long time, for some of them even decades, and so we just try to create a space for people to shine."    Alice Linsmeier (16:45-17:02) The Equitable Food Initiative is on a mission to bring together growers, farmworkers, retailers and consumers to transform agriculture and improve the lives of farm workers. It wouldn't...

"Here's the plan: have a plant. It's your invitation to inspire more health and happiness."   Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak (38:11-38:19) Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, RDN, President and CEO of the Produce For Better Health Foundation, and return Produce Moms guest (check out episode 16 and episode 52), is serving up some interesting data about our current state of fruit and vegetable consumption.    Every...

"We're now democratizing local food. Anybody can get this, anybody can shop this way and we can deliver it to the door."    Nick Carter (14:54-15:01)   Nick Carter, fourth generation farmer, author of "More Than A Mile: What America Needs From Local Food", and co-founder and CEO of Market Wagon is on a mission to connect "agra" with "culture" so we can bring back the connection we're missing and f...

"At NatureSweet, our commitment is really to transform the lives of agricultural workers in North America, no matter what." Lori Castillo (3:02-3:11)   NatureSweet's ability to transform the lives of their agricultural workers across North America just got stronger now that they're partnered with Fair Trade USA! Fair Trade USA is a nonprofit organization in Oakland, California and the leading cert...

"Anyone looking to make a more nutritious, healthy choice, my core philosophy comes back to more produce, more often." Jackie London (6:16-6:28)   It's no wonder Jackie London, Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist, Head of Nutrition & Wellness for WW (formerly Weight Watchers), and author of "Dressing on the Side (and Other Diet Myths Debunked): 11 Science Based Ways to Eat More, Stress Less, and Feel...

"The Big Honey Dekopons are the best eating piece of citrus on the market." Jeri Elsasser (21:21-21:24)   A super sweet, easy to peel, gorgeous, delicious piece of fruit that gives you your daily dose of recommended Vitamin C? Yes please! There's a lot to love about Trinity Fruit Company's Big Honey Dekopon mandarins.   From conventional or organic stone fruit and pomegranates to citrus varieties...

"Make no mistake. COVID-19 changed everything for the grocery industry." Brittain Ladd (5:51-5:55)   Our former guest Brittain Ladd from Episode 41, one of our top 20 most downloaded episodes of all time, joins The Produce Moms again to talk about the current state of retail and the exciting innovations we're seeing with micro fulfillment centers.   Brittain is one of the most well-loved leaders i...

"We want that same kind of transparency and confidence in our food supply chain to know that we can bring home products to our families that are healthy and safe. "     Karen Long ( 13:52-14:13)   Did you know that 93% of all food purchases in the United States come from women? And the one thing women want more than anything right now with their food and produce purchases is transparency.    iFood...

"We have a health crisis, a social crisis, an economic crisis and a climate crisis all coming together at the same time." Derk Hendriksen (9:15-9:20)   From the Netherlands to Belgium, France then all across America, Derk Hendriksen has had an exciting career that now fuels his passion for sustainability and social enterprise. Now, as co-CEO of Treasure8, Derk is helping achieve the one thing we a...

"Food is culture! It doesn't matter what socio-economic status, what type of food access you have, every single person is united by food." Lori Taylor (16:29-16:41)   Imagine waking up each morning in early 1900s New York City, driving your horse and wagon to the local farm, filling it with fruits and vegetables, and staying out all day until you've sold all of your produce.   That was the start o...

"It's really profound to think potatoes are everywhere. The boys in my family say, 'it's the perfect vegetable mom!' It's all my boys want to eat."   Lori Taylor (2:48-3:00)   Wada Farms was established in 1943 by Frank Wada, an immigrant from Japan who migrated to the United States in 1922. Frank started out in San Clemente, California, but when World War II hit and many Japanese were being moved...

"The fact that the peak MandaRosa season is right around Valentine's Day and we have it the whole month of February really makes it a great item for marketing in the produce department."   Kim Flores (7:37-7:50)   Have you ever heard of a MandaRosa? This captivating, beautiful, red-flesh mandarin was partially named by The Produce Moms community!   Kim Flores, who was previously on our Thanksgivin...