Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and Veggies

What does it take to push the human body beyond what most people think is even possible? Imagine swimming nearly 24 miles, cycling more than 1,100 miles, and then running 262 miles—all in a single event. That’s not a typo. That’s a Deca Triathlon… and today’s guest has not only taken on that challenge but built a reputation as one of the world’s premier ultra-endurance athletes.

Today we’re honored to welcome Epic Deca triathlete, J.D. Tremblay. This mega endurance race features ten Ironman triathlons over ten consecutive days in the Hawaiian Islands.

J.D.‘s story is about much more than athletic achievement. He grew up in circumstances that could have easily determined a negative course for his life. But as a child, J.D. decided that his future would not be defined by his surroundings. Through determination, discipline, and an unwavering belief that there was a better path ahead, he forged a life of purpose and extraordinary accomplishment. That same determination has carried him through some of the most grueling enduranceevents on Earth.

But J.D. doesn’t compete in these events to prove he can finish them. He now dedicates his participation and organizingof them to raise money for underprivileged children around the world. He provides a service to help people of all walks of life, not just endurance athletes, overcome mental and physical roadblocks and achieve their goals of better health and a better life.

Tune in to hear his inspiring story. And listen to the end because we have a special giveaway in this episode.

This week we welcome Daniel Jackson of Family Tree Farms, one of California’s premier growers of blueberries and stone fruit. Daniel takes us behind the scenes to discover how exceptional flavor begins in the orchard—from selecting unique varieties to harvesting fruit at just the right moment.

And what the heck are plumcots and apriums? Daniel introduces us to these unusual and delicious crosses between plums and apricots, along with some of the remarkable varieties Family Tree Farms grows. We’ll also talk blueberries, peaches, nectarines, plums, and more as we explore how innovation, family farming, and a passion for flavor are changing what you can find in the produce aisle.

Get ready to discover some fruits you may have never heard of—but will definitely want to taste!

It's Apple Season Once Again. So, in this week’s episode, we’re re-airing an episode from one of America's most successful apple growers. In it, we will dive into the world of apples with someone who lives and breathes them every single day. Our guest is Austin Fowler of Fowler Farms in upstate New York — a farm that’s been in continuous operation since 1858. That’s six generations of the Fowler family devoted to one crop, one passion, and one mission: growing apples of the highest quality.

Think about that for a moment — six generations! The Civil War was still on the horizon when the Fowler family planted their first trees. Since then, they’ve weathered depressions, recessions, blights, storms, and the constant shifting demands of consumers — and through it all, they’ve not only survived, but thrived.

Fowler Farms is known not only for honoring tradition but also for pushing innovation in apple growing. They’ve helped introduce new varieties that consumers now love, adopted cutting-edge growing practices, and built a legacy that has shaped the apple industry in New York and far beyond.

In this episode, Austin will take us into the orchard to talk about what it’s really like to grow apples in the modern era — the science, the challenges, the weather, and of course, the joy of bringing in a harvest that might end up on your kitchen table. We’ll also talk about how tastes in apples are changing, why some varieties explode in popularity while others quietly fade away, and what it means to carry a family legacy into the next generation.

So whether you’re a fan of Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, Empire, or one of the many newer apples like Snapdragon that are making waves in the produce aisle, you’ll want to stay tuned. By the end of this episode, you’ll have a new appreciation for the people, the history, and the hard work behind every single apple you bite into.

It’s Hatch Chile Pepper season once again! What makes Hatch Chile peppers so delicious and sought after? It’s the unique microclimate where they grow. They are named for the tiny town of Hatch, NM, which sits at a towering elevation of 4,000 feet, has wild swings in temperature, and monsoon rains during the growing season. It’s no wonder they’ve risen to such great heights in the culinary world. This week we’re joined once again by “The Produce Expert,” Robert Schueller of Melissa’s World Variety Produce, who will tell us all about these peppers with a cult following. Because of their passionate followers, they have a festival which is the largest food festival dedicated to a single food item. Tune in to learn about them and find out where you can go for their seasonal roastings at grocery stores across the country.

This week we are bringing back a segment we often played in the first year of the podcast. We called it “Guess the Mystery Fruit or Veggie.” But we are renaming it to “Produce Mysteries.”

In this segment, I will ask the Produce Buzzers a series of questions to see if they can guess the mystery fruit or veggie. How will they do? And you listeners can play along. Can you guess this episode’s mystery fruit or veggie?

In this berry special episode of The Produce Buzzers Podcast, we welcome Theresa Nolan, better known throughout the produce industry as “The Strawberry Queen.” With decades of experience promoting one of America’s favorite fruits, Theresa has become a passionate ambassador for strawberries and the growers who bring them to our tables.

Join the Buzzers as we dig into the fascinating world of strawberries—from their surprising history and nutritional benefits to the challenges of growing the perfect berry. Theresa shares stories from her remarkable career, explains what makes today’s strawberry varieties so exceptional, and offers expert tips on selecting, storing, and enjoying strawberries at their peak.

Along the way, we explore strawberry myths, fun facts, cultural traditions, and the enduring popularity of a fruit that has captured hearts around the world for centuries.

Whether you’re a devoted strawberry lover, a produce enthusiast, or simply curious about the people behind the fruits and vegetables you enjoy every day, this episode is packed with juicy insights and plenty of sweet conversation.

Tune in and discover why Theresa Nolan truly deserves her crown as the Strawberry Queen!

This week, we’re diving into the world of premium, refrigerated salad dressings with a brand that’s been elevating salads for decades—Marie’s Salad Dressings. Unlike shelf-stable dressings, Marie’s has built its reputation on fresh, high-quality ingredients and rich, restaurant-style flavor that turns everyday greens into something special.

And joining us today is Laura Radigan, Senior Director of Marketing for Marie’s, who’s here to give us a behind-the-scenes look at what makes Marie’s stand out, how consumer tastes are evolving, and why dressing might just be the most important decision you make when building a salad.

So whether you’re a ranch loyalist, a blue cheese believer, or someone looking to upgrade your salad game, this episode is for you.

Avocados have gone from a once-in-a-while specialty item to a full-blown cultural phenomenon. From toast to tacos, smoothies to sushi rolls, consumers just can’t seem to get enough of this creamy green superfruit. But even in a category as popular as avocados, innovation never stops.

This week, we’re diving into the future of avocados with Gary Caloroso, Regional Business Development Director of The Giumarra Companies, one of the largest shippers of avocados in the U.S. He joins us to talk about an exciting newer avocado variety called GEM—an avocado that’s generating a lot of buzz for its flavor, appearance, growing advantages, and potential to complement the dominant Hass variety.

We’ll explore what makes the GEM avocado unique, how consumers are responding to it, and why new avocado varieties matter in a fast-growing category where demand continues to soar year after year. Along the way, we’ll also talk about avocado trends, merchandising, nutrition, sustainability, and where the avocado industry may be headed in the future.

What will the produce aisle look like in the future? Which fresh foods will consumers demand next? And how will technology, sustainability, and changing lifestyles reshape the way we grow, market, and eat fruits and vegetables?

On this episode of The Produce Buzzers Podcast, we sit down with food futurist Ozan Ozaskinli of Value Gene to explore the future of food and what it means for the fresh produce industry.

From shifting consumer behavior and emerging food trends to AI, ag tech, sustainability, and the evolving expectations of younger generations, Ozan shares fascinating insights into where the world of fresh food may be heading in the years ahead.

We also discuss:

·      The future of fresh produce retail

·      Sustainability and consumerexpectations

·      Technology and innovation inagriculture

·      How shopping habits are changing

·      The challenges and opportunitiesfacing growers

·      Predictions for the future of fruitsand vegetables

Whether you’re a grower, retailer, foodie, marketer, or simply curious about the future of fresh food, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Listen now and discover why the future is fresh!

Spring is in the air… and you know what that means—citrus lovers, this is your moment. Because while winter may get all the credit for citrus, there’s a little gem that shows up fashionably late to the party and absolutely steals the show.

We’re talking about the legendary Ojai Pixie tangerine—small, sweet, seedless, and packed with flavor that feels like sunshine in every bite.

Grown in the unique microclimate of California’s Ojai Valley, Pixies have developed something of a cult following—and once you’ve had one, you understand why. Easy to peel, incredibly sweet, and perfectly timed for spring, they’re a reminder that citrus season doesn’t end when winter does… it just gets better.

Today, we’re joined by someone who knows these special tangerines inside and out—Emily Ayala of Friends Ranches, one of the premier growers of Ojai Pixie tangerines. Emily is part of a family deeply rooted in citrus growing, and she’s here to give us a behind-the-scenes look at what makes Pixies so unique, from grove to grocery store.

So whether you’re already a Pixie fan or just discovering them for the first time, get ready—this episode is going to be SWEET!!