The Produce Moms Podcast

"Logistics are the heart and soul of our  industry." Lori Taylor (2:14-2:17)   Without advancements and logistics, we wouldn't have accessibility to produce 365 days a year, or the array of seasonal produce in virtually any climate.   The Produce Moms Podcast welcomed today it's very first logistics company guest, Chad Ogden, Director of Transportation for Sunrise Logistics. Sunrise Logistics is p...

"The whole family's going to eat it and it's going to be made with clean, real ingredients, and it's going to taste delicious!" Jennifer Wiese (4:21-4:28)   What was originally a decision to help her son battle autism turned into a movement to help families everywhere enjoy plant-based products that are made with real, clean ingredients.   Jennifer Wiese, founder of BeeFree and mother of four sons...

"If we can increase positive interactions with avocados, we're going to grow as a category." Patrick Cortes (17:13-17:17)   Food sustainability is possible without the use of harmful chemicals, but instead, with chemistry-driven technology that helps reduce waste and supports our health.   Chemistry has a bad wrap in the agriculture world, but companies like Hazel Technology are changing that. Haz...

"It's one of the most important times that we maintain a focus on globalism, we maintain a commitment to multilateralism and to working together." Beth Bechdol (34:56-35:06)   Almost 2 billion people around the world experience a moderate or severe food insecurity.   Although this trend has been decreasing for the past 20 years, we've recently seen a plateau and even reverse trend in some countrie...

"Anytime one of us is brave enough to stand up and speak on an issue, it does inspire other people to do the same." Robyn O'Brien (13:19 - 13:26)   Food security is national security, and this is one of the most fundamental issues of our time.   Robyn O'Brien, Co-Founder of rePlant Capital, Found of Do Good, Found of AllergyKids Foundation, author of The Unhealthy Truth, and Adjunct Professor at R...

"Empowering women to trade benefits everyone." Liz Becerra (5:19-5:22)   The SheTrades Initiative is on a mission to help connect three million women entrepreneurs in Agriculture by 2021.   The United Nations and World Trade Organization have come together to create the SheTrades initiative in order to create a sustainable economic impact globally. By helping women entrepreneurs, buyers and partne...

"Family mealtimes are more important than ever right now to create unity in the family, to be connected, and have an opportunity for meaningful communication at the end of the day."  Stefani Sassos (9:00)   Stefani Sassos, MS, RDN, CSO, CDN is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for the Good Housekeeping Institute. She has been involved in everything from clinical work, work as a fitness instructo...

"Restaurants are not just good for business, but good for life." Lori Taylor (19:54)   As a champion of the fresh produce industry, The Produce Moms has made it a top priority to cover the recent pandemic, and its effects on the produce industry, from the front lines.    We have so many friends and partnerships who have been directly affected by the recent events, and we have watched in awe as the...

"There is such an incredible profile of nutrition in each tiny button of a mushroom." Mike O'Brien (15:20)   Founded in 1971, Monterey Mushrooms is the national leader in mushrooms. Their 4000 employees supply retailers and restaurants around the country with over 200 million pounds of fresh mushrooms each year. One of the best things about Monterey Mushrooms is that they are always locally grown!...

"Food safety is the paramount goal for everyone in agriculture." Lori Taylor (16:42)   Jennifer Pulcipher is the Director of Food Safety and Compliance at North Bay Produce. With a degree in Food Safety from Michigan State University, and nearly a decade of experience in the field, she is an expert when it comes to keeping your food safe from the field to the fork. She oversees all programs relate...

"We have created this content over Zoom and in our home kitchens. It's inspiring to look at how many people are enjoying it, and bringing this goodness into their homes." Lori Taylor (30:38)   Celebrating our beginning and looking towards the horizon.   Eight years ago Produce Mom founder, Lori Taylor had her first healthy cooking demo at a local Indianapolis library. She welcomed ten visitors to...

"The events our American farmers have endured in such a short amount of time with no notice leaves me without words." Lori Taylor (26:00) Seth Karm is the CEO of Salad Savoy. Salad Savoy is the brainchild of founder John Moore. After a trip to Sweden, where Moore was blown away by the enticing colors and flavors of the produce grown there, he returned and developed an entirely new vegetable! Since...

"Eat well. Move Daily. Be Healthy. That's my mantra. I live by it and try to help others live by it too." Dr. Wendy Bazilian (38:44)   If you love snacking, you aren't alone.   Dr. Wendy Bazilian is a writer, researcher, educator, food enthusiast, award-winning journalist, and a lover of snacks. She is also an ambassador for California Walnuts, and is full of incredibly insightful information abou...

"The Do Anything sauces are a seriously simple way to bring everyone to the table." Lori Taylor  (17:05-17:12 )   Do Anything Foods is real food for real life.   As with so many fantastic brands we feature on The Produce Moms, Do Anything Foods was created by busy moms like you who weren't willing to compromise quality for convenience. When Monica Solhotra became mom, she was completely overwhelme...

"Sustainability is the common thread that unites us all in the world of agriculture." Lori Taylor (20:15)   The Velazquez de León Family are Pioneers in the Organic Industry.   Mayra and Daniella Velazquez de León are an ultimate mother daughter duo, continuing a rich heritage in the agriculture industry that stretches for four generations. Mayra's father was the first commercial organic banana gr...

"In agriculture, it's Earth Day everyday!"   Lori Taylor  (33:12)   Happy Earth Day!    In the produce industry, every day is earth day. From the farm to your kitchen and beyond, Naturipe is a golden example of what it looks like to live sustainably, taking care of the one earth we have so others will be able to enjoy it for generations to come. They are industry leaders, and we are proud to call...

"One thing I do know is that this industry, the produce industry, we're unstoppable together. I have never been more proud to work in agriculture than I am right now"  Lori Taylor (27:53)   In the face of a global pandemic, our produce industry is stronger than ever.   Ashley Nickle is the Retail Editor for The Packer Newspaper and Editor in Chief of the Produce Market Guide. Ashley has been part...

How to get involved Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!  Reach out to us - we'd love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here .

"Schools are a gateway to changing the consumption habits surrounding fruits and vegetables in the United States."  Lori Taylor (13:12-13:26)   School meals are a vital part of creating an environment for students to succeed.   Dr. Katie Wilson, Executive Director of the Urban School Food Alliance, has a contagious passion for all things child nutrition and school food service. She and her team at...

"Crop One is among the largest vertical farms in the world. Their mantra is the future of farming. Their mission is to solve the world's food problems, one crop at a time." Lori Taylor (1:15-1:24)   Crop One is changing the way the world grows produce.   Dr. Jenna Bell is the Vice President of Nutritional Science for Crop One, one of the largest vertical farms in the world. She leads nutrition and...

"This is plant-based with all the taste. A truly delicious non-dairy dessert… and the best popsicle on the market" Lori Taylor (1:30)   When life gives you lemons, make strawberry lemonade popsicles.   When Julie Podolec's son was teething, she wandered the aisles of the grocery store to find a natural frozen treat to help soothe his sore gums. However, as she read the ingredient lists she quickly...

"What I love doing is figuring out what scientists are doing and then applying it in the field to make people's lives better." Vonnie Estes (4:24)   From Growers, to Packaging, to Your Table, Technology is Revolutionizing AG.    When it comes to agriculture technology, Vonnie Estes is the most brilliant woman that the Produce Moms has crossed paths with. She is truly a thought leader in the indust...

"[Plastic reduction] is being demanded now in a way it never has been before. There is a consumer awareness of what it means to live sustainably."  Lori Taylor (6:35-7:00)   Changing the world, one package at a time.   Andrea Watson, Founder and Chief Brand Ambassador of Nature Knows, is passionate about sustainability, and is using this drive to change the world through packaging. Nature Knows is...

"It matters when you feed your kids to think about nutrition for their brains. Their brains are developing really rapidly. The same way you pay attention to their bones and muscles… you should be paying attention to feeding them for their brain health."   Jonathan Wolfson (23:01-23:33)     Necessity is the mother of invention.    When Jonathon Wolfson, Founder and CEO of Brainac Kids,  began askin...

"Baze is a young, global company, well positioned to make this concept and truth of personal nutrition accessible for all.  Lori Taylor (19:03)   The future of personalized nutrition is NOW.   Allison Baker is a Registered Dietician, the VP of Business Development at Baze, and an absolute superstar in the realm of personalized nutrition.    Baze was founded in 2014 with a mission to revolutionize...