In this episode of The Global Fresh Series , we sit down with industry strategist Peter Tasgal to unpack the complex world of tariffs and their ripple effects on global produce trade. From shifting trade routes to rising costs and strategic pivots, Peter shares invaluable insights on how companies can stay resilient in a volatile trade environment. Whether you're navigating global markets or watching policy changes unfold, this is a must-listen for staying ahead in the produce industry. First Cl...
May 14, 2025•41 min
The rise of Carthage is one of the most dazzling stories of the ancient world. A tale of cunning queens, glittering harbors, and empires built not just by sword and sail, but by soil. In this episode, John and Patrick trace the astonishing birth of Carthage - from Queen Elyssa’s legendary ox-hide bargain to the booming agricultural empire that threatened Rome itself. Far from a mere city of merchants, Carthage was a powerhouse of farming innovation: with iron plows, vine-laced terraces, and swee...
May 13, 2025•53 min
In Part 1 of our ROFDA Conference Series, host Patrick Kelly and co-host Dan Avakian take you behind the scenes at one of the most dynamic gatherings in the retail and wholesale food industry. We kick things off with a powerful conversation featuring Chris Greco , accomplished Tech CEO, published author, and the keynote speaker of the event. Chris shares his vision on technology’s role in driving innovation, leadership in a rapidly evolving marketplace, and how we can future-proof the food suppl...
May 12, 2025•16 min•Season 1Ep. 535
Dan the Produce Man and Ross the Produce Boss are back from the road and back in the garden. Ross shares his visit to Natural Grocers in Colorado, Dan reports in from Arizona, and both give quick updates from their own backyards. On the table this week: 🫐 California blueberries 🍒 New crop cherries and fresh varieties 🥦 A quick merchandising tip for jumbo asparagus 🍓 And some smart advice for picking strawberries at your farmers market. It's all right here on Fresh from the Field Fridays ! An...
May 09, 2025•27 min
In this exciting episode of The Global Fresh Series , we sit down with Josep Estiarte , Managing Director of Bloom Fresh , to explore how innovation, flavor, and sustainability are driving a new era in fresh produce. Josep dives into Bloom Fresh’s mission to create varieties that not only taste better but last longer, reduce waste, and captivate global consumers. From game-changing table grape varieties to bold branding strategies, this episode uncovers how Bloom Fresh is reshaping the produce l...
May 07, 2025•29 min
It’s Cinco de Mayo and we’re bringing the heat on this week’s episode of The Produce Industry Podcast ! Host Patrick Kelly recaps an incredible week in produce, including a shoutout to the ROFDA Conference and a sneak peek at our upcoming two-part recap series from the event. We’re also diving into the latest industry headlines: Whole Foods Market debuts a new podcast Global Women Fresh launches Season 1 exclusively on The Produce Industry Network USDA sanctions four businesses for PACA violatio...
May 05, 2025•27 min•Season 1Ep. 534
This week on Fresh From the Field Fridays on The Produce Industry Network, your favorite host Dan “The Produce Man” Avakian is joined by special co-host Patrick Kelly , giving Ross the week off! The duo hits the streets of Tucson to explore local grocery stores, dive into the fresh fruits and vegetables on display, and talk about what’s in the fields and what’s on the horizon for your produce aisle. From in-store freshness to field-side updates, get the inside scoop on what’s ripe, what’s hot, a...
May 02, 2025•22 min
Let’s face it—our industry keeps evolving, and so do we. That’s why we’re launching “The Raw Pour” with Carmell Clark (Fortune 500 executive coach) and “Café Virtual” with Jen Monterroso 🌎☕️ These bi-weekly conversations are more than just coffee chats—they’re unfiltered, real, and designed to inspire. You’ll walk away with fresh perspectives and practical tools to grow your career and your network. And what better platform to host these bold conversations than The Produce Industry Network? 🌏�...
May 01, 2025•52 min
Get ready to dive into the world of grapes! In this juicy episode, we chat with Ignacio Caballero about “Have a Grape Day,” the bold new consumer campaign from the Global Grape Group — a united front of grape growers from Chile, Peru, and Mexico. Ignacio shares his passion for this powerhouse fruit and how global collaboration is set to supercharge grape consumption across the U.S. From marketing strategies to flavor innovation, we’re talking all things grapes. You won’t want to miss this fresh ...
Apr 30, 2025•35 min
How did a drunk church-goer influence the Navy’s go-to-beverage? What does a Persian fruit beverage and sherbet powder have to do with each other? How did an American favorite drink fall from grace? And why does tomato juice taste so much better on a plane? In this month's livestream, John and Patrick each reveal their top three produce-based drinks from history. From orange juice’s vital role in World War II to grape juice’s unexpected place in the fight against alcoholism, these drinks don’t j...
Apr 29, 2025•1 hr 5 min
This week on The Produce Industry Podcast , host Patrick Kelly is joined LIVE in studio at AgLife Studios by two powerhouse guests making big waves in produce—and even bigger impacts in the world 🌎🍊. Albert Perez of Continental Fresh , whose company is leading the charge in giving back to clean water infrastructure in the Dominican Republic. And Martin Casanova of Thx! Dreams , a purpose-driven brand that uplifts and supports farm workers and their families through every package of fresh produ...
Apr 28, 2025•45 min•Season 1Ep. 533
How to inspire consumers to up their fresh produce consumption? Listen to this flavorful episode, with the incomparable Chef Lala —celebrity chef, certified nutritionist, and advocate for healthy Latin cuisine. From the sizzling sounds of her kitchen to the heartfelt stories behind her recipes, Chef Lala shares how food can be both delicious and deeply meaningful. We talk about her culinary journey, her mission to blend culture with health, and how she's redefining what it means to cook with cor...
Apr 23, 2025•28 min
Robert Fortune’s journey was far from over. After infiltrating China in disguise, Fortune now sets his sights on the Wuyi Mountains—steeped in legend, veiled in mist, and home to the most coveted tea in the world: black tea. Guided by his newly appointed servant, the enigmatic Sing-Hoo, Fortune pushes deeper into China’s forbidden interior, navigating treacherous paths and even more treacherous politics. But not all goes according to plan. His prized green tea shipment meets an unfortunate fate,...
Apr 22, 2025•1 hr 19 min
Join us for a flavor-packed episode of The Produce Industry Podcast as host Patrick Kelly welcomes Gabe Bernal live in studio in Tampa, FL ! Gabe brings his signature energy and insight to the mic as the two dive into the vibrant world of tropical fruits , how tariff impacts are reshaping parts of the produce supply chain, and—of course—a few fun seasonal treats you won’t want to miss. From mangos to kumquats and beyond, this episode is full of juicy takes, real talk on global trade pressures, a...
Apr 21, 2025•44 min•Season 1Ep. 532
AgLifeMedia.com and The Produce Industry Network present Fresh From The Field Fridays with Dan The Produce Man and Ross The Produce Boss ! This week, we’re joined by The Farm Kid himself—Shay Myers —as we take off into the fields with the Alluring Allium . So wipe those tears and sharpen your blades… it’s 30 minutes of onion talk you won’t want to miss. Tune in and turn on!...
Apr 18, 2025•37 min
In this special episode of the Global Fresh Series, we dive into the biggest takeaways from last week’s CPMA Centennial celebration of years, at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) Convention and Trade Show. From innovative trends and sustainability initiatives to powerful industry insights and networking moments, we’re bringing you the freshest updates straight from the show floor. Join us as we walk the aisles for exclusive interviews, expert commentary, and a pulse check on what...
Apr 16, 2025•36 min
In this special episode of The Produce Industry Podcast , host Patrick Kelly celebrates 10 incredible years at the Viva Fresh Expo , hosted by the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA)! Patrick is joined by two powerhouse guests: Dante Galeazzi , CEO of TIPA, who shares insights on the show’s growth, innovation, and community impact over the past decade. Albert Perez , CEO of Continental Fresh, LLC , brings a fresh perspective on water, produce, and purpose—and shares stories from the g...
Apr 14, 2025•19 min•Season 1Ep. 531
Be sure to catch this week’s Fresh From The Field Fridays on The Produce Industry Network and AgLifeMedia.com! From asparagus to beans—and specialties in between—Ross and Dan share the mic with Bruno Luis of Southern Specialties. As Bruno says: “That’s what we’re aiming for—everyone to have a good experience, whether they open a Southern Specialties bag or they’re enjoying it on a plate at a restaurant. That’s really what fills us at the end of the day.” So go ahead— fill your day when you tune ...
Apr 11, 2025•33 min
In this powerful episode, host Juanita Gaglio sits down with two trailblazing leaders in the fresh produce space: Julie Escobar and Carmell Clark of Global Women Fresh . These two powerhouse women share their insights on transformational leadership , navigating and excelling in a male-dominated industry , and creating meaningful pathways for the next generation of women in produce and agriculture. 💡 From bold career moves to building global networks of support, Julie and Carmell break down what...
Apr 09, 2025•41 min
When Portuguese traders arrived on India’s western shores in the early 1500s, they brought more than religion, colonial ambition, and a lust for spice - they also carried with them a tiny, crimson fruit that would set Asia ablaze. In part two of their deep dive into the scorching history of chili peppers, John and Patrick trace the pepper’s path across India, China, and Korea, where it would come to define cuisines, ignite revolutions, and even ward off evil spirits. From its humble beginnings i...
Apr 08, 2025•47 min
In this special on-the-ground episode , host Patrick Kelly takes you to Lakeland, Florida , where the citrus community gathered at Florida Southern College to honor the legends of the industry at the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Inductee Ceremony . 🎉 Join us on the red carpet as we celebrate the stories, dedication, and lifelong contributions of this year’s three inductees . Patrick sits down with the honorees themselves, along with the families, friends, growers, and leaders who make this event...
Apr 07, 2025•28 min•Season 1Ep. 530
This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays from The Produce Industry Network and AG Life Media Incorporated… Dan the Produce Man and Ross the Produce Boss dig into their spring garden plans—talking herbs, chives, and a few other tasty surprises. They’ll also cover what’s fresh and in season right now, like sweet English peas and crunchy snap peas, straight from California fields. Ross gives us the scoop on his latest berry run to the store, including what he paid for organic strawberries. Then, i...
Apr 04, 2025•34 min
A fruit cornucopia with the global bell pepper supply mixed in with the formation of a new grape consortium and more! The Global Grape Group—a new powerhouse of grape exporters from Chile, Peru, and Mexico—launched with electrifying energy at Femme 25, unveiling their U.S. campaign, Have a Grape Day! Industry leaders Ignacio Caballero and Sergio Rene Lugo Bonillas share insights on boosting grape consumption. Plus, we meet endurance legend Diana Nyad, who swam 110 miles from Cuba to Florida at a...
Apr 02, 2025•22 min
For millennia, chili peppers have been at the heart of the Americas - long before Columbus set sail, before the Aztecs built their empire, and before the Incas wove them into myth. Originating in what is now Peru and Bolivia, these fiery pods were among the first crops cultivated by humans, shaping the diets, medicine, and rituals of entire civilizations. From the wild “tolerated weeds” of early foragers to the carefully cultivated varieties prized by the Maya and Aztecs, chiles were far more th...
Apr 01, 2025•49 min
Join host Patrick Kelly , broadcasting from Fort Pierce, Florida , at the annual Florida Citrus Showcase Tailgate Event ! This special episode brings the energy of Florida’s citrus community together as we celebrate the industry, serve up fresh-squeezed juice from Noble Citrus and Season Farm Fresh on the Citrus America juicer , and explore ways to strengthen Florida citrus for the future. Patrick is joined by Quentin Roe of Noble Citrus as a special co-host, diving into conversations with Flori...
Mar 31, 2025•51 min•Season 1Ep. 529
This week on Fresh From The Field Fridays from The Produce Industry Network/AgLife Media—Ross The Produce Boss tells Dan The Produce Man why he swears by mason jars for storing berries. Plus, a current crop update straight from Ross’ Produce Boss desk! And Dan dives into Spring Onions and Spring Garlic —a real chef’s delight! How do they differ from their mature counterparts? What are the best ways to use them? We’ve got the answers as we welcome spring with fresh flavors. So Tune in and turn on...
Mar 28, 2025•33 min
In this Global Fresh Series episode, we’re squeezing out the latest on the global lemon supply —how growers and markets are navigating through adverse weather conditions, higher prices and consumer demand. 🍋 But that’s not all! We’re also heading to two European supermarkets , where groundbreaking consumer promotions have not only increased fresh produce consumption but also tackled the growing challenge of food waste . 🌱♻️ First Class Sponsorship: Peak of the Market: https://p...
Mar 26, 2025•37 min
On August 23, 1919, a celebratory dinner at the Lakeside Club in Canton, Ohio, was held in honor of Col. Charles C. Weybrecht’s return from France at the end of the First World War. But what began as a joyous occasion soon turned tragic, as guests fell ill - and over the following days, several would die. In this month’s History of Fresh Produce livestream, we delve into the infamous event known as The Great Olive Poisoning, a case that would help shape America’s food safety system. How did oliv...
Mar 25, 2025•39 min
In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast , we welcome Quentin and Adam Roe to the Aglife Media Studios in Tampa, FL ! As 3rd and 4th generation farmers , the Roe family has been deeply rooted in the industry for decades, and today, we’re talking about passing the torch to the next generation. But that’s not all— Noble Fresh is making waves on the global stage ! 🌍 Get ready to see their premium citrus varieties and labels worldwide as they expand into international markets. From family le...
Mar 24, 2025•35 min•Season 1Ep. 528
This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays with Dan the Produce Man and Ross the Produce Boss—local favorites straight out of California! We’re talking fresh California asparagus and what’s left of the growers in the state, plus Monterey County and desert-grown artichokes. We’ll also break down the latest on berries from Florida and California—how to pick the best ones and how this wild weather is shaking up crops across the country. It’s all right here on Fresh from the Field Fridays from The Pr...
Mar 21, 2025•29 min
