Fresh From the Field Fridays

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, we’re getting into some late-season citrus with sour oranges and kumquats. We’ve also got mini sapotes on the table, the difference between Hawaiian ginger and Chinese ginger, California garlic versus Chinese garlic, Meyer lemons, and we’ll talk about what happened to all the California asparagus.

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

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!

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!

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 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 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...

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 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 Fresh from the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man and Ross the Produce Boss dive into the biggest fresh produce and food trends of 2025—and look ahead to what’s coming in 2026.

From fresh-cut vs. bulk on the produce stand to mushrooms, berries, and the ever-growing wall of salads, we break down what’s hot, what’s changing, and what shoppers are actually buying.

We also tackle the age-old question: how many servings of fruits and vegetables should you really be eating? Remember “five a day”? What exactly counts as a serving—and how much i...

It’s a new year on Fresh-from-the-Field Fridays, and Dan the Produce Man brings you four in-season favorites.

We kick things off with broccolini, also known as sweet baby broccoli, where it came from, why it goes by so many different names, and why the stems matter.

With all the rain in Northern California, chanterelle mushrooms are abundant right now, and they remain a true favorite among chefs.

A brief field update from strawberry fields in Watsonville.

We also get into sunchokes. Are these sunny artichokes? Well, not really. Find out wh...

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Ross brings on a special guest, his daughter Alice, to share her preteen fresh produce picks. Ross also digs into some dairy-free alternatives to his traditional Czech heritage cookies, plus brand-new seasoned veggie kits made for the air fryer. They cover New Year’s Eve produce picks, from black-eyed peas and collard greens to grapes, and even tackle the question of whether New Year’s resolutions are actually a good idea.

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

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays,

Dan the Produce Man and Ross the Produce Boss are

talking Christmas cookie traditions, with Ross sharing family-favorite Czech

recipesand why he still uses an old-school, hand-turned grinder to make walnut flour

the traditional way. That technique also opens the door to gluten-free and

dairy-free holiday cookie options.

On the table this week: Oro Blancos, Kishu mandarins, sweet

limes, imported Bing cherries, white strawberries, chestnuts, Davison apples,

late-season Fuyu persimmons, and how to use them...

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Chef Jeffrey Schlissel joins us with smart, time-saving prep tips to make your holiday cooking a whole lot easier. We get into what you can prep ahead so you’re not slammed on the big day, the latest trends in the restaurant and food-service world, and a heads-up about ingredients in fresh-prepped foods. Chef Jeffrey brings the heat with practical advice and plenty of industry insight. All this and more from The Produce Industry Network and AgLife Media.

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays:

Ross is on the East Coast at the New York Produce Show, and Dan is in Monterey at the Organic Grower Summit. We kick things off with the latest on the strawberry situation, then roll right into our picks of the week: crisp Iceberg lettuce, sweet Ambrosia apples, classic Rome Beauties, those gorgeous red Dianju pears, and creamy Bacon avocados. And believe it or not, Dan's garden is still pumping out tomatoes here in December.

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

This week on Fresh From the Field Fridays, it’s Black

Friday, folks — and Ross the Produce Boss and Dan the Produce Man are

diving into the world of online produce shopping.

Do you buy produce online?

Who do you trust?

And what’s your experience been?

We get into all of it — the good, the bad, and the “why did

they ship me that?”

Plus… it’s chestnut season.

We...

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Dan The Produce Man and Ross the Produce Boss welcome Chef Eric Meisel — culinary produce specialist and all-around kitchen wizard. We’re diving into everything Thanksgiving… brining tips, roasted veggie magic, the right fruits to brighten your table, and even some fun drinks to bring a little extra groove to your holiday spread.

It’s all right here on Fresh from the Field Fridays, brought to you by The Produce Industry Network and AgLife Media.

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Ross the Produce Boss and Dan the Produce Man dig into some seasonal gems—fresh Florida citrus, Honey Nut squash, and a few more late-fall goodies hitting produce departments right now. Then the duo welcomes Dustin Robison from Harvest Central, a sweet potato grower out of Livingston, California. Dustin breaks down sweet potatoes the way only a farmer can: organic, conventional, flavor differences, storage and cooking tips, plus a few Thanksgiving prep hacks to make those holiday dishes really pop. It’s all happening right here on Fresh from the Field Frid...

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man and Ross the Produce Boss dive into some killer seasonal gems — Arkansas Black apples, miniature mangoes, Koginut squash, Fuyu persimmons — plus other surprises straight from the field.

We also drop a few simple tips to help you prep for the big holiday coming up this month. Fresh, fun, seasonal!

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

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays with Ross the Produce Boss and Dan the Produce Man — we’re getting spooky with produce.

Halloween goodies, healthy swaps, and yes… even some candied fruit for the sweet tooth crowd.

Ross breaks out a killer lineup of creative Halloween fruit boards and charcuterie-style displays — perfect for parties or keeping the kids off the sugar crash.

We also touch on Day of the Dead and All Saints traditions, and the produce items that show up in those celebrations.

It’s seasonal, it’s fresh, and i...

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, there’s an exciting new pineapple in town — and boy oh boy, it’s smashingly incredible! 🍍

It’s the Colada Royale from Dole Fruit Company, and we’ve got the exclusive interview with Dr. Roberto Young, the developer behind this outstanding new pineapple. This one’s a real winner, folks!

We also catch up with Bill Goldberg from Dole Fruit Company for more insight on this tropical sensation.

But first — in the opening segment — Ross and Dan go over a few items they found intriguing, new, and exciting a...

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 also got Ross showing off some Michigan Honeycrisp apples and introducing a brand-new variety that knocks Dan’s socks clean off - it’s truly...

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, checks out some retail-ready action at local Indy stores, and covers jumbo blueberries, late-season plums, his favorite salad dressing, what’s sizzling on his famous Blackstone griddle, and even gives an IFPA prev...

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 pears are truly ready to eat.

Ross is talking salad bowls (and has a message for the

...

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 sweet berry deal he enjoyed this week, while Dan talks about foraging wild berries in the Northern California mountains. Walnut harvest season is in full swing, and the guys e...

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 mason jars.

Dan brings some fun and flavor with Butt-Crack Peaches, Rave Apples, Sommerfeld Apples, fresh bunched radishes, Concorde Grapes, fresh figs, Abate Fetel pears, and...

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 are choosing fresh vegetables today. Tune in for insights straight from the field to your table!

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man and Ross the Produce Boss share some of their top picks of the week. They’re joined byaward-winning organic retail consultant, educator, and advocate, and the owner of Organic Options Mark Mulcahy.

Mark brings the latest on what’s tasting great right now — like dry-farmed early-grown tomatoes and even dry-farmed variety melons grown in Oregon. He also talks about the Rising Stars program, a collaborative effort that’s helped over 2,500 produce and fresh food managers grow and thrive in the industry.

Tune in for all...

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, we’re going ape for grapes!

Ross “The Produce Boss” Nelson and Dan “The Produce Man” Avakian welcome Jim Beagle from Grapery.

Jim shares his journey from working the fields at age five with his dad to becoming CEO of Grapery—still walking the rows every day with his crew. You’ll hear how rich dialogue with consumers keeps Grapery in tune with shopper expectations, and Jim’s core advice: do the job right every day, be consistent, and deliver the experience shoppers can count on.

We dive into:<...

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man and Ross the Produce Boss are joined by Farmer Lee Jones from The Chef's Garden in Huron, Ohio.

Farmer Lee digs deep into regenerative agriculture—feeding the soil, respecting its biology, and restoring nutrients to our food. He explains how vegetables grown a century ago carried up to 80% more nutrients than they do today, but now we’re bringing that back—dusting it off, reinventing it, and restoring the living biology in the soil. As he says: “There’s more life in a tablespoon of healthy so...

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Anthony Totta from FreshXperts joins us. FreshXperts is a powerhouse team of produce industry consultants, advisors, and mentors.

Anthony walks us through the group’s broad spectrum of expertise—everything from retail-level merchandising, product handling, and worker training, all the way back through the supply chain. That includes warehousing, ERP software solutions, grant writing, business development strategies, procurement training, and even helping companies secure the financing they need to reach their goals.

From growing up in his grandfather’s and father’s grocery stores, to creating brands, to build...

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays from The Produce Industry Network and AgLife Media—

Ross the Produce Boss and Dan the Produce Man are joined by Dick Peixoto, founder and proprietor of Lakeside Organic Gardens.

You’ve seen the Lakeside Organic Gardens label on organic veggies all across America, from grocery stores to foodservice distributors.

Hear how Dick went from being the son of a pesticide salesman to one of the largest organic powerhouses in the country.

It’s all right here on Fresh from the Field Fridays—so tune in...

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays from The Produce Industry Network and AgLife Media—Dan the Produce Man and Ross the Produce Boss are live in Monterey at the IFPA Foodservice Summit!

Ross is just back from Europe with great photos and stories from produce markets abroad. Dan’s got summer treats like Angelcots, Japanese honeydew, and more, plus the latest from this year’s IFPA Food Show.

It’s all happening on Fresh from the Field Fridays—so tune in and turn on!

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays from The Produce Industry Network and AgLife Media...

Ross is away, traveling through Europe—so Dan is flying solo!

But don’t worry, the produce is still piling high. Dan’s got a table full of summer stunners from Bay Area produce markets, farmers markets, and his own backyard garden.

Fresh on the table:

Sharlyn melon

Yellow donut peaches and yellow donut nectarines

Nectarplums

Dry-farmed Early Girl tomatoes

Adriatic figs

Piel de Sapo melon<...

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays From The Produce Industry Network and AgLife Media…

Ross is getting ready to hit the road again—this time, he's heading to Europe! And he’s promised to check in with us live from some of the fresh produce markets and street stands he discovers along the way.

Before that, we’ll recap his visits with growers across California, right before he met up with Dan at OPS. We’ll talk Summer Punch, Apriums, and a whole bunch of other cool goodies.

Dan shares California grown Sunc...

This week on Fresh From The Field Fridays Ross and Dan are reportin live from the Organic Produce Summit 2025 in Monterey California! - A short and fresh look at what’s happening in organics this week and a recap of the Lakeside Organic Gardens Farm Tour in Watsonville.

Happy 4th of July from Fresh from the Field Fridays, The Produce Industry Network, and AgLife Media!

This week, Ross is fresh back from Berry University—and he's bringing the juicy details. Plus, longtime produce pro Armand Lobato joins us as he steps into retirement (but not out of the game).

We're talking summer produce, Fourth of July picks—corn, peaches, watermelon, stone fruit—you name it. We’ve also got tips for produce managers and a peek at what’s next for Armand.

It’s all right here on Fresh from the Field Friday...

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays from The Produce Industry Network and AgLife Media, it’s summertime—and that means stone fruit is on fire!

Ross and Dan welcome Kevin Steiner from Mountain View Fruit to talk all things peaches, nectarines, peachcots, plumcots, and plums—yellow, white, and everything in between. The season’s hitting its stride, and the fruit is everywhere.

It’s the time of year when warm weather and fresh fruit come together to revitalize us.

Plus, we’ve got a garden update from Ross’s backyard and Dan’s backyard...

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Ross the Produce Boss and Dan the Produce Man welcome Joel Hewitt from CMI Orchards.

We’re diving deep into the Northwest Cherry season—talking timing, trends, and taste. Joel gives us the lowdown on the American Dream label—what it stands for, what’s behind it, and why it matters. We’ll also dig into some exciting newer varieties, like the Skylar Rae and the Strawberry Cherry, plus what’s happening in the world of organic cherries and the unique challenges of cherry packaging and presentation.

So tune in,

This Friday the 13th, there’s no superstition—just produce ambition!

Ross and Dan are talking summer veg with Henry Dill of D’Arrigo Produce.

What’s going down in Salinas? What should be going on your plate?

We’re serving up fresh updates and seasonal goodies—

So tune in and turn on—it’s Fresh From the Field Fridays!

🌱 Fresh From the Field Fridays 🌽

This Week with Ross & Dan

🎙️ On the Mic: Ross and Dan are back, chatting all things fresh and local as the farmers markets open up across Indianapolis! From homegrown produce to artisan goods, it’s the best time of year to support your local food scene.

🗞️ In This Episode: