The Produce Moms Podcast

"The sustainable side is here to stay." Jeff Watkin (23:18-23:19)   You might immediately think packaging for produce is a bad thing, but companies like Sev-Rend are manufacturing tags, labels and bags for produce that are environmentally sustainable and biodegradable.    Jeff Watkin has been the Director of Marketing at Sev-Rend, a printing and converting manufacturer specializing in packaging fo...

"If you employ a mom, we need your flexibility and understanding right now." Lori Taylor (13:15-13:20)   2020 was an incredible year for us all filled with challenge, pain, community and change that no one could have expected. If anyone had it difficult, it was moms like you, struggling to maintain your work hours or pivoting your career entirely, working tirelessly to keep up with your family and...

"You can deploy the vaccine in an environment where there's already built in trust." Chris Valadez (7:37-7:42)   "Our growers [in Texas] were really in the thick of their season when we had to adjust," says Dante Galeazzi, where Chris Valadez's agricultural workers (in California) were just getting started on their season when the pandemic hit.    No one could have expected or been prepared enough...

"This is the number one reusable grocery bag shopping solution." Lori Taylor (10:29-10:32)   When Farzan Dehmoubed and his wife started selling Lotus Sustainables four years ago, they thought their initial product would sell out in four months. They sold out in eight days.   With results like that right off that bat, surely the product must be great! Lotus Sustainable was created with the mission...

"One of the big focuses of Fair Trade is the wellbeing of the workers." Iris Madrigal (9:12-9:15)   The Fair Trade movement is now more popular than ever, but what is it exactly and how can you, as a consumer, know that the Fair Trade products you purchased truly are helping improve the sustainability and development of our world?    Iris Madrigal and her husband Alex who is the second-generation...

"The heritage and development of the brand was asking ourselves, 'how do we bring flavor to our customers?' That's where the name That's Tasty was born." Don Helms (18:24-18:40)   Shenandoah Growers is the consumer grower for the That's Tasty brand that brings you some of the freshest, most flavorful herbs available in America.   Don Helms, Vice President of Marketing for Shenandoah Growers, and s...

"The human element that's behind each and every pear that makes it to market is really amazing and profound."     Lori Taylor (17:55-18:02)   What other fruit is as elegant as a pear, but yet approachable and available year round? Slicing up a pear will dress up any cocktail party charcuterie board or help fill your kids lunchboxes with a nutritious treat. These fruits are still harvested, packed,...

"No matter what you're preparing for thanksgiving, the number one ingredient is love." Lori Taylor    Thanksgiving looks a little different this year for all of us, but one thing remains important: enjoying a delicious meal with those you love and finding gratitude for all you have.   This American holiday is such an important one to slow down, reflect on what we can appreciate in life, and the on...

"Ultimately it transports us back to a time when food was simple, clean and delicious." Sarah Frey (4:32-4:39)   How wonderful would it be to grow up on a farm where you get to experience the magic of what the earth is capable of, while picking blackberries and other fresh fruit that get turned into refreshing, delicious agua frescas?   That's part of the beauty that Sarah Frey, CEO of Sarah's Hom...

"When you see that package of Naturipe, there's a farmer behind it." John Stauner (18:58-19:02)   Have you ever wondered what goes into bringing the magic of cranberries to your holiday table? John Stauner of James Lake Farms and Ray Hableman of Hableman Brothers bring you fresh, ripe, delicious cranberries year after year under the Naturipe brand.   John Stauner has been in the cranberry industry...

"Within two minutes of sitting down with Tony I knew that this was where we wanted to be." Chuck Sinks (2:54-2:59)   Sometimes when you meet someone and it's so organic and natural, you know you're meant to do something together. That was how Sage Fruit Company came to partner with race car driver Tony Stewart, creating a powerful, healthy relationship that's impacted the lives of thousands.   Chu...

"Most of the rest of the world knows about this fruit and loves it." Karen Nardozza (16:13-16:17)   On the Florida Avocado Administrative Committee's 2021 Schedule there are 23 major varieties and 38 minor varieties of tropical avocados listed alone.   Karen Nardozza, President and CEO at Moxxy Marketing , helps brands grow and evolve in the agriculture and fresh food industry. She helped The Prod...

"We are like Navy Seals. Nothing can get us." Julie Krivanek (18:08-18:13)   Julie Krivanek is a self-proclaimed deep generalist, member of boards, trusted advisor to board of directors, chief strategist and Founder and CEO of Krivanek Consulting, who has helped startups to global brands in the produce industry come out on top and weather any storm.   With a background in business management and a...

"We really do believe that what you get out is what you put in."   Lori Castillo (5:00-5:04)   NatureSweet is a powerhouse, iconic brand selling the best tasting tomatoes in North America who's focused on transforming the lives of agricultural workers around the continent.   Do you ever taste the difference between a take-out meal and one that you spent hours at home cooking? For some reason, you...

"Overnight our grocery bill quadrupled." Emily Brown (6:46-6:50)   The Food Equality Initiative is the nation's leading organization that is working to increase access to allergy friendly and gluten-free foods to individuals who need them the most. Did you know Black children are 7% more likely to have food allergies compared to white children and free-from foods cost 2-4 times what those with com...

"Food safety is about making the supply chain safer." Ralph Towell (16:06-16:09)   The Produce Traceability Initiative is an industry wide initiative to properly track packages to ensure food safety events are identified as fast as possible.    Have you ever struggled to trust name brands or your local produce suppliers due to news headlines of dangerous salmonella or E. coli outbreaks? It's hard...

"Our children are learning by watching us. We are so important to what they believe and what they think about themselves."   Dr. Yami (19:28-19:36)   Dr. Yami's tagline is "pediatrician on a mission", and for good reason. This powerhouse mom, pediatrician, public speaker and author wants children to grow up with a healthy body image and relationship with food that sets them up for success.   Dr. Y...

"Our mission is to make every home cooked meal a special occasion." Suzette Overgaag (11:18-11:20)   Attempting to be a sustainable and healthy household is difficult when items like fresh herbs go bad in just a day or two after buying them. Wouldn't it be nice to have living, fresh and beautiful herbs that made any meal an occasion, without being rushed to use them?   Suzette Overgaag and her thi...

"How could we find a way back home?" Bella Hughes (6:50-6:52)   Shaka Tea is 100% plant based, project non-GMO verified, sustainably sourced and created from Mamaki, the rarest herbal tea in the world.   Native Hawaiian Bella Hughes is a trailblazer in the best way possible. With a former profession in the non-profit and contemporary art world, Bella took a sharp left turn when she co-founded Shak...

"We're facing as a nation a fruit and vegetable consumption crisis." Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak (2:50-2:53)   September is National Fruits And Veggies Month hosted by the Produce For Better Health Foundation!    Founded by Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, President and CEO, and internationally celebrated dietician, the Produce For Better Health Foundation not only wants to help increase fruit and vegetable con...

"When you have a passion and you can apply that type of energy to something you know is making the world a better place, it really is rewarding."     Kurt Wagaman (30:36-30:47)   If the U.S. Navy and most hospitals have access to chemical free cleaning devices, why can't I?   That probably isn't a question you've ever asked yourself, but thankfully, it's one Tim Busby, co-founder and managing part...

"A hungry kid can't learn." Adam Russo (15:01-15:03)   There's no one size fits all for school meal programs, let alone with a global pandemic.   If there's anyone who's passionate about the success of school children and feeding them healthy meals, it's Adam Russo and Mollie Van Lieu. Adam is the Director of School Food and Nutrition Services at Prince William County Public Schools located in Vir...

"I didn't know as a child if I would make it out alive." Sarah Frey (12:48-12:51)   Sarah Frey is one of the most inspirational women in the agricultural industry.    Her phenomenal story starts on her family's farm in southern, rural Illinois where they hunted, processed and grew their own food, and only had a wood burning fire stove for heat. Sarah can even recall the first time she saw a thermo...

"It's got one ingredient. What more could you ask for?" Case Samuel (10:10-10:14)   Sunrise Fresh is the #1 seller on Amazon in the dried fruit category and has been for the past four years. This fourth generation, family owned company is dedicated to producing the freshest dried fruit with no added ingredients.   Have you ever wondered why most dried fruit or products containing dried fruit are s...

"How do you communicate something so that it's a message that people can grab onto?" Barbara Ruhs (13:15-13:21)   The top three leading causes of death and morbidity in the United States are diabetes, cancer and heart disease, three diseases that could be virtually eliminated if people ate the recommended two to three cups a day of fruits and vegetables.   Barbara Ruhs didn't originally set out to...