The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly

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 second part of their story on the history of dates, as imperial expansion, desert espionage, and ambitious American plant hunters carry this ancient fruit from...

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.

Reference: https://esmis.nal.usda.gov/publication/national-fob-review

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 seedless Muscat grapes. Real springtime gems, good for your soul, good for your health, and flat-out enjoyable.

It’s all right here on Fre...

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 ancient Mesopotamia, to Roman trade networks and the sacred traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In part one of this two-part series, they uncover how a single tree helped sustain empires, sh...

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 citrus with us!

#farming #future #supplychain

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 famous calcot onions—those sweet Spanish grilling onions grown using a special mounding technique that chefs love to roast over an open flame.

It’...

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 Patrick as they trace the extraordinary history of climate control in the service of fresh produce - from Tiberius’s selenite-covered cucumber beds, to the heated ondol systems of the Joseon Dynasty, the imperial glasshouses of Palace of Versailles and Royal...

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 critical commodity is at stake: fertilizer, the essential nutrient that supports nearly half of the world’s food production.

With countries in the region supplying a significant portion of the wo...

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 is key to thriving together in the supply chain.

#freshproduce #agriculture #supplychain

https://kopkefruit.com - Check out the latest and greatest from Kopke!

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 collaboration that defines Southern Exposure. We discuss the standout moments from the expo, including innovative booth presentations, new product introductions, and the growing role of storytelling and digital media in connecting fresh produce with buyers and...

What was the United States government’s first move, when it decided that what Americans ate was a matter of national concern? Why, from the depths of the Civil War to the height of the culture wars, has Washington repeatedly redrawn the nation’s plate - sometimes to fight hunger, sometimes to win wars, sometimes to battle heart disease and obesity? And how did fruits and vegetables move from quiet supporting players to nutritional protagonists, caught between science, industry, and politics?

Join John and Patrick as they trace the extraordinary history of U.S. dietary guidelines - from...

Join host Patrick Kelly as he welcomes special co-host Jonathan Buettner of Buettner Processing Solutions, LLC. for a lively discussion from the Southern Exposure 2026 event in Orlando, Florida.

This episode dives into the heart of the produce supply chain community, highlighting trade show insights, industry collaborations, and innovations shaping the future of fresh produce.

Tune in to hear about networking, new technology, and the spirit of support that keeps this industry growing strong.

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Dan has King Oyster mushrooms on the produce table. Learn how you can turn these incredible mushrooms into vegan pulled pork and delicious tacos.

Also on the table is Dazzle variety sweet apples, Ataulfo mangoes, Kinnow mandarins, and three varieties of blood oranges to taste and compare.

It’s all right here on Fresh from the Field Fridays with Dan the Produce Man, brought to you by the Produce Industry Network, powered by AGLife Media.

Check out aglifemedia.com today!

What kind of fruit was designed to be swallowed whole by giant sloths? How did a sacred Mesoamerican tree become the green badge of millennial brunch culture? And how did a humble postman’s backyard seedling end up conquering global agriculture?

Join John and Patrick as they trace the astonishing history of the avocado - from the forests of ancient Mexico and the courts of the Maya and Aztec, to the chandeliers of the Alexandria Hotel, the rise of Calavo, and the accidental genius of Rudolph Hass. Along the way: plant explorers, freezes that nearly wiped out an...

Join Patrick Kelly, the voice of the Produce Industry, as he shares firsthand insights from his recent travels through California's Central Valley and previews the highly anticipated Southern Exposure trade show in Orlando.

This episode dives into the latest innovations in pre and post-harvest solutions with AgroFresh, tackles the challenges of unpredictable weather on crop quality, and highlights exciting industry events and sponsors. Don’t miss this behind-the-scenes look at the evolving produce supply chain and key trends shaping the season.

Join Ross the Produce Boss as he fills in for Dan with special guest Patrick Kelly to dive into the role of fresh produce in fueling athletes at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

Explore how Italian cuisine and seasonal fruits and veggies are powering peak performance, plus insider tips on what’s fresh and local this season. Tune in for fresh industry insights, Olympic highlights, and a celebration of produce in sport!

In this vibrant February episode of The Global Fresh Series, we celebrate the spirit of the Chinese (Lunar) New Year — a season of prosperity, renewal, and symbolic foods — while honoring National Heart Month, spotlighting the powerful role fresh produce plays in cardiovascular wellness.

From citrus fruits symbolizing good fortune to berries, leafy greens, tomatoes, avocados, root vegetables, and other nutrient-rich staples that support heart health, we explore how global food traditions and modern nutrition science beautifully intersect.

Join us as we journey across cultures and commodities, uncovering how fresh produce fuels celebration, strengthens communities, and supp...

What becomes of a man who spent his life moving plants, people, and power across the globe - when his own body finally begins to fail? How did Joseph Banks face his final years: in pain, in controversy, and yet still at the very center of British science? And why, after four decades at the helm of the Royal Society, did his reputation wither almost as quickly as his health?

In this seventh and final episode, John and Patrick follow Banks into his twilight: chairing meetings from a wheelchair, backing Arctic expeditions, sampling three-year-old tinned meat in...

Join host Patrick Kelly as he welcomes Bruce Letchworth of Continental Fresh to share inspiring stories of purpose, passion, and mission-driven work in the produce industry. Discover how honesty and relationships are transforming communities globally through the 'Water for All' initiative, and enjoy a lively conversation that blends produce insights with Bruce’s unique alligator hunting and fish fry adventures. A heartfelt episode that proves one person’s passion can ripple out and change the world.

#VIVAFRESHSURPRISE #ASKUS

This week on Fresh From the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man and Ross the Produce Boss welcome Caroline Lewis, founder of The Farmer’s Feed—all about reconnecting people with the farmers who actually grow their food.

We dig into the cabbage trend that’s heating up in foodservice and retail, talk about why farmers need to tell their own stories, and how getting closer to the consumer really matters right now. We also hit on Valentine’s Day strawberries, a little floral, and what it all means at store level.

It’s real people, re...

This week on The Global Fresh Series, we’re recapping the high points of Fruit Logistica 2026, where nearly 90,000 fresh produce professionals from around the world gathered in Berlin despite challenging winter conditions.

We take a closer look at the business momentum, innovation highlights, and key themes shaping the global fresh produce industry, followed by an overview of the EU–Mercosur trade agreement and what it could mean for future market access, competition, and trade flows.

We’ll also share a consumer insight straight from Berlin, offering perspective on evolving shopper expectations in one of Europe’s most i...

What happens when exploration gives way to administration - and adventure turns into power? How did a royal garden become the beating heart of a global botanical empire? And how did Joseph Banks, without leaving London, reshape landscapes, economies, and diets across the world?

In this episode, John and Patrick move from the drama of ocean voyages to the quieter - but far more consequential - world of Kew Gardens, where Banks transforms botany into infrastructure, plants into policy, and seeds into instruments of empire. From globe-spanning networks of plant hunters to glasshouses, diplomacy, and even Britain’s...

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast with Patrick Kelly, we break down the biggest takeaways from Fruit Logistica 2026 in Berlin — from data‑driven transformation and sustainability to global trade standards and the rise of storytelling in fresh produce. Patrick also shares his personal journey across Spain, Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, Chile, and beyond on a mission to uncover the top citrus making its way around the world.

Plus, we feature exclusive on‑site interviews with Jaime Bustamante of the DRC on trade standards and financial protection, and Hannes Tauber of VOG – Home of Apples on strat...

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, we’re talking earthquakes, snowy weather, and the real-world challenges facing the produce industry right now. On the fresh side, we dive into Gold Nugget mandarins, Cuties in bags, Enchanted cider, cello radishes, the sweetest batch blueberries, blood orange varieties, and pineberries. We also cover bringing healthier produce options to a kids’ dance competition, Super Bowl produce ideas including crudités and snackable fruit and veg, plant-based options, and a little Valentine’s Day inspiration too.

It’s all right here on Fresh from the Field Fridays with Dan the Produ...

This week on The Global Fresh Series, we’re coming to you from Fruit Logistica in Berlin, where the global fresh produce industry gathers to shape the future of trade, innovation, and market access.

In this special episode, we share insights from the show floor and introduce a guest with years of hands-on experience doing business in the China fresh produce market. As China continues to play an outsized role in global pricing, demand, and premium fruit trends, understanding how to navigate this market has never been more critical.

Our conversation explores what it really ta...

How did a gentleman botanist turn a vague imperial idea into a functioning colony on the far side of the world? Why did Joseph Banks’s quiet influence matter as much as any act of Parliament or naval broadside? And how did food, plants, and fragile supply lines decide whether Britain’s most audacious colonial experiment would live or die…?

Join John and Patrick as Parliament finally commits to Botany Bay, Arthur Phillip sails with the First Fleet, and a penal colony teeters on the edge of starvation. From floating prisons and travelling greenhouses to shipwrecks, rum empire...

A powerful cold spell is sweeping across the United States — from snow flurries in Florida to citrus growers on alert in California and Texas. In this episode, we break down how the freeze is affecting produce supply, harvest timing, transportation, and pricing, all while recapping recent travels from Tucson and the SWIPE Conference. Weather volatility is shaping the market in real time, and we explore what buyers, shippers, and retailers should expect in the coming weeks.

Then we shift gears as the show heads to Berlin, Germany, for Fruit Logistica — one of the world’s largest fresh‑produce...

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays with Dan the Produce Man and Ross the Produce Boss, Ross is fresh back from the SWIPE show and brings us a brand-new item called Zucchiolo. We also talk frozen grapes and why they’re such a great snack.

On the produce table: Gold Nugget mandarins, Valentine pomelo, and a full lineup of cauliflower – white, green, purple, orange, plus the wild looking Romanesco. What’s the difference between them all? We break it down.

We also get into waxy potatoes versus starchy potatoes, and why Idaho isn’t the on...

We begin with a deep dive into France’s recent decree banning five active substances on a range of fresh produce, regardless of country of origin, and explore what this unilateral move means for growers, exporters, and global supply chains operating within and beyond the European Union.Next, we’re excited to introduce a new segment, Consumer Insights, featuring Nicole MacDonald, who joins us to unpack how today’s consumers are thinking about food choices, trust, transparency, and value in an increasingly complex marketplace.We close the episode by addressing dynamic pricing — a growing concern for consumers and a powerful, and some...

Fresh from fame and flush with ambition, Joseph Banks sets out to remake the world in his own image. But what happens when celebrity curdles into entitlement, when science collides with the Navy, and when one man’s colossal ego derails an imperial voyage before it even leaves port?

Join John and Patrick as Banks plans a second South Seas expedition, throws one of the great tantrums of the eighteenth century, and quietly begins his transformation from globe-trotting naturalist into the most powerful scientific fixer in Britain.

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In Sponsorship with Cornell University: Dy...

Patrick Kelly and co‑host Ross Nelson take you straight to Tucson, Arizona for their very first Southwest International Produce Expo experience. From teeing off at the golf tournament to diving into education sessions, shaking hands at networking events, and walking the buzzing expo floor, this episode captures the energy and discovery of seeing the show through fresh eyes.

Join the recap as Patrick and Ross sit down with industry leaders from Albertsons, Wakefern, HEB, and more to unpack trends, standout innovations, and the relationships shaping the future of produce. It’s a week of learning, laughter, and...

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Ross “The Produce Boss” and Dan the Produce Man share some great finds from the market. Ross talks about the Juicy Crunch tangerine, some air-fryer-ready frozen produce from PictSweet Farms, and a sweet treat — chocolate-covered pistachios. Dan dives into more microgreen varieties and shows off those beautiful bunched, multi-colored watermelon radishes.

It’s all right here on Fresh from the Field Fridays from the Produce Industry Network, powered by AgLife Media.

This week on The Global Fresh Series, we take a wide-angle look at the forces reshaping the global fresh produce industry—from avocado boardroom power, with the blockbuster acquisition of Calavo Growers by Mission Produce, a deal that signals a new era of scale, vertical integration, and expansion into prepared foods. moves to unexpected environmental challenges influencing what ends up on our plates. Followed with exploring record avocado demand and how Avocados From Mexico is looking far beyond Super Bowl Sunday—forecasting billions of avocados moving through global markets and investing in year-round demand, new regions, and next-generation consumers. We l...

What happens when discovery turns to disaster — and survival hangs on a sliver of luck? How close did Joseph Banks come to losing everything he had collected, and his life with it? And how did coral, disease, and chance shape one of the most important scientific voyages in history?

Join John and Patrick as the Endeavour smashes onto the Great Barrier Reef, limps into Batavia, and is transformed from a ship of discovery into a floating hospital - a brutal reminder that Banks’s botanical triumphs were forged on the very edge of catastrophe.

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In this episode of the Produce Industry Podcast, Patrick Kelly sits down with Jeff Cady, Vice President of Procurement for Tops, to discuss retail sourcing, supplier relationships, and today’s produce market challenges. Jeff shares insights on procurement strategy, leadership, and what it takes to succeed as a retail partner in an evolving industry.

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, we’re talking dandelion greens, Cara Cara red navels, and those rare Chocolate Navel oranges — all showing up in stores right now.

Dan also breaks down a timely AgLife Media article on California pear growers and the impact of heavy imported pear volume still in the pipeline just as fresh Lake County pears are hitting the market.

And we wrap it up with a look at some really cool, nutrient-packed broccoli microgreens.

It’s all right here on Fresh from the Field Fridays, from the Produc...

This week on The Global Fresh Series, we take a wide-angle look at how rapidly shifting environmental conditions, global demand, and innovation are reshaping the fresh produce landscape.

We begin in California, where the state has officially been declared drought-free, marking a major turning point for growers, water policy, and long-term agricultural planning.

From there, we travel to Southeast Asia, where surging demand for durian—driven by the Chinese market—is transforming the small rural village of Raub, in Malaysia. Once a quiet agricultural area, Raub is now positioning itself as a global supplier, expanding duri...

This week on The Global Fresh Series, we take a wide-angle look at how rapidly shifting environmental conditions, global demand, and innovation are reshaping the fresh produce landscape.

We begin in California, where the state has officially been declared drought-free, marking a major turning point for growers, water policy, and long-term agricultural planning.

From there, we travel to Southeast Asia, where surging demand for durian—driven by the Chinese market—is transforming the small rural village of Raub, in Malaysia. Once a quiet agricultural area, Raub is now positioning itself as a global supplier, expanding duri...

What happened when Joseph Banks finally put to sea - and discovery left the comfort of gardens behind? How would a voyage meant to advance science collide with storms, suspicion, imperial rivalries, and human tragedy? And what would it cost to catalogue the natural world at the far edges of the globe?

Join John and Patrick as they follow Banks aboard HMS Endeavour, from vineyards in Madeira and standoffs in Rio de Janeiro to catastrophe in Tierra del Fuego and the intoxicating promise of Tahiti. This is science under sail: plants collected at gunpoint, lives lost to...

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast, Patrick Kelly welcomes Wiggs Civitillo, Founder and CEO of Starfish, for a conversation. Wiggs shares his background, experiences, and perspective, offering insight into his journey and the path that led him to where he is today. Through the discussion, listeners get to know Wiggs both personally and professionally, and hear his story in a natural, conversational way.