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

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!!

Fresh produce has always been at the heart of the organic movement. Long before organic snack bars, cereals, and frozen entrées filled store shelves, it was organic apples, carrots, greens, and berries that helped build consumer trust in the idea that food could be grown differently—more thoughtfully, moresustainably, and with greater care for the land and the people who work it.

Today, organic fresh fruits and vegetables continue to be one of the strongest and most visible segments in the entire organic marketplace. From the produce aisle to farmers markets to community-supported agriculture, fresh organic produce isoften the first—and sometimes the most meaningful—connection consumers have with organic food.

To help us unpack what’s happening in the organic produce world, we talk this week to Matt Landi, Vice President of Industry Relations for the Organic Trade Association. The OTA represents the organic industry across the supply chain—from growers and shippers to retailers, brands, and service providers—and plays a major role in policy, advocacy, and education around organic food in the United States.

Tune in to hear this conversation about the roots—and the future—of organic produce.

When most people think of Wisconsin, they think of cheese and beer. But it may surprise you to learn that the state is the third-largest producer of potatoes in the United States. Thanks to its unique sandy soils, abundant water resources, and multi-generations of farming expertise, the state leads in the production of high-quality potatoes.

This week, we are talking everything potato! And highlighting the wide variety of delicious potatoes that hail from the Dairy State. We are joined by Dana Rady, Director of Promotions for Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association. Dana works closely with growers across the state, helping promote Wisconsin potatoes and supporting the farmers who produce them. Tune in to learn all about how potatoes are grown and the different types and varieties.

This week on The Produce Buzzers podcast, we’re talking pears—one of the most sophisticated fruits in the produce department. From crisp, refreshing bites to buttery, melt-in-your-mouth perfection, pears have range, heritage, and a whole lot of untapped potential for your culinary needs. Tune in to learn all about these most delicious and versatile fruits.

If you’ve ever wondered how to pick the perfect pear, why some pears ripen on the counter instead of the tree, or how this humble fruit became such a staple in kitchens around the world, this conversation is for you.

With the Lunar New Year here, we’re diving into a season filled with symbolism, tradition, and some of the most beautiful, meaningful produce in the market. It’s the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac. Robert Schueller. “The Produce Expert” joins us once again to tell us all about the most popular fruits & veggies for the Lunar New Year, which is celebrated all across Asia.

From golden kumquats that represent wealth and prosperity, to long beans that stretch toward longevity, to crisp Asian pears that bring sweetness into the new year. Tune in to discover these delicious foods and the symbolism they bring to the holiday.

Avocados are no longer just a trend — they’re a lifestyle. And while many consumers think first of Mexico or California, there’s a country that’s quietly and powerfully carving out its place in the avocado world: Colombia.

This week on the Produce Buzzers Podcast, we’re excited to welcome Manuel Michel of Avocados From Colombia, an organization dedicated to telling the story behind Colombia’s fast-growing avocado industry. From year-round growing regions and ideal climates to sustainability, quality, and expanding global demand, Colombia is becoming an increasingly important player in keeping avocados on shelves and on plates.

Manuel is here to help us understand why Colombian avocados matter, how they complement existing supply, and what retailers and consumers should know about this exciting origin. So whether you’re slicing, smashing, or spreading, get ready to learn more about one of the most dynamic avocado origins in the world.

This week, we’re excited to shine a spotlight on a company that’s become a major force in the berry world — North Bay Produce. Known for their year-round supply of top-quality fruit and a global network of passionate growers, North Bay has been pushing the envelope in flavor, size, and eating experience.

North Bay Produce is a cooperative of more than 30 grower-owners from North, Central, and South America, producing fresh fruits and vegetables year-round – from asparagus to apples, berries, and snow & sugar snap peas. Headquartered in Traverse City, the northwest corner of Michigan’s lower peninsula, the international company markets and distributes its products worldwide.

Winter might not be the season most people associate with sweet, juicy watermelon—but for our guest today, it absolutely is. While the rest of us are bundled up and dreaming of summer picnics, the team at Melon 1, the nation’s leading watermelon grower and shipper, is hard at work bringing fresh, delicious melons to grocery stores all winter long.

Rachel Syngo, Chief Marketing Officer for Melon 1, joins us this week to give us a behind-the-scenes look at the winter watermelon season. So grab your forks—or your saltshakers if that’s your style—and get ready to learn why winter is warming up for watermelon lovers. The quality is just as good as that of summer melons, and although they tend to be a bit more expensive, the value per pound and serving is one of the best in the produce aisle.

Happy Holidays Everyone

Welcome to a rebroadcast of our very first Christmas episodefrom 2021. It was a good one. I’m sure you will be entertained and informed about some of the most intriguing fruits and veggies that are traditionally eatenthis time of year.

What the heck are “sugar plums?” Are they real fruit? Howmany pear trees with partridges will your true love send you on the 12 Days of Christmas? And the fruitful tradition of stocking stuffers, including oranges and walnuts!

Stay tuned to get yourself in the holiday spirit and haveyour appetite whetted for some delicious fruits and veggies.

In this week’s episode, we’re turning our attention to a nut that has flown under the radar for far too long and one of the most unique and boldly flavored nuts in the world—the American black walnut. Unlike the mild English walnut most of us buy at the store, black walnuts grow wild, harvested, not from manicured orchards, but from trees scattered across backyards, farms, and forests throughout the Midwest and Appalachian states. They’re one of the few truly wild-harvested commercial foods in the United States—a tradition that brings together thousands of local gatherers each fall. With their rich, earthy flavor and crunchy texture, black walnuts have a personality all their own, celebrated by bakers, chefs, and food lovers looking for something real, rustic, and full of character.

Joining us to tell us all about them is Jacob Basecke, Executive VP of Hammons Products Company, a fourth-generation family business that has been harvesting, processing and promoting black walnuts for decades from the Ozarks in Southern Missouri.

We’ll dig into what makes black walnuts different from the English walnut – from flavor to nutrition, sustainability to wild-harvest tradition. We’ll explore how Hammons works with thousands of harvesters in the Midwest, how their crop fits into today’s consumer and foodservice markets, you can make the most of this bold, wild nut.