In this inspiring episode of The Produce Industry Podcast, host Patrick Kelly sits down with Jorge Rodriguez of BLUE Missions to explore the powerful intersection of produce, purpose, and clean water.

Learn how BLUE Missions is working to end the global water and sanitation crisis by connecting communities in Latin America with sustainable infrastructure—and how the produce industry is playing a part in that mission. Dives into the roots of the organization, the incredible impact they've made, and the personal stories that drive their team forward.

We also take a closer look at BLUE’s Annual Hike for Water in the Dominican Republic—an eye-opening journey that brings people face-to-face with the communities they’re supporting, all while trekking through breathtaking landscapes.

In this special collaboration with History Daily, we present a double feature exploring two pivotal moments in history.

First, you’ll hear the story of Lewis and Clark’s return after successfully completing the first U.S. overland journey to the Pacific Ocean.

Then, you’ll learn how French biologist Louis Pasteur developed a method of heating liquids to destroy harmful bacteria - a process that would come to bear his name.

Hear more episodes from History Daily here.

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Step into history - literally! Now is your chance to own a pair of The History of Fresh Produce sneakers. Fill out the form here and get ready to walk through the past in style.

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In this episode of the Global Fresh Series, host Juanita Gaglio takes a crisp bite into the world of apples — one of the most iconic and widely consumed fruits on the planet. From global production statistics to surprising consumption trends, Juanita explores where apples stand in the produce industry and why they continue to dominate grocery aisles year after year. You'll hear about top-producing countries, how apple varieties shape market demand, and what trends are influencing growers, retailers, and consumers alike.

First Class Sponsor: Peak of the Market: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://peakofthemarket.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Premium  Sponsor: Zag Technological Services, Inc.:  https://www.zagtech.com/ 

Premium Sponsor: Avocados from Colombia: https://avocadoscolombia.com/

Premium Sponsor: The Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation: https://fvdrc.com/  

Global Women Fresh: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://globalwomenfresh.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On July 8th, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the administration is determined to reclaim farmland owned by what it calls "foreign adversaries" and to establish a "100% American workforce" in agriculture.

But how much U.S. farmland is actually owned by foreign governments?

When did this trend begin?

Has there ever truly been a 100% American agricultural workforce?

And when did immigrants first begin working on American farms?

In this month’s livestream, John and Patrick dive into the historical roots of these questions, unpack the claims made by the current Trump administration, and explore what this could mean for the future of American agriculture.

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In Sponsorship with Cornell University: Dyson Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

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Join the History of Fresh Produce Club for ad-free listening, bonus episodes, book discounts and access to an exclusive chatroom community.

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Step into history - literally! Now is your chance to own a pair of The History of Fresh Produce sneakers. Fill out the form here and get ready to walk through the past in style.

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Instagram, TikTok, Threads:

@historyoffreshproduce

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In this special episode of The Produce Industry Podcast, host Patrick Kelly takes you straight to the heart of the NEPC Trade Show 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts — one of the most dynamic gatherings in the fresh produce world!

Join Patrick as he hits the show floor to bring you exclusive conversations with some of the most influential voices in the industry — from growers and shippers to retail leaders, tech innovators, and trade association executives. Hear firsthand what’s trending, what’s changing, and what’s coming next for produce in 2025.

Check out New England Produce Council @: https://www.newenglandproducecouncil.com/

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 soil than in the whole world—when the biology is respected.”

We also explore Farmer Lee’s journey: from standard farming practices to transforming The Chef’s Garden under the influence of world-renowned chefs. Together, they built a path forward when times were tough, advancing their offerings through a focus on texture, body, color, and flavor.

It’s a powerful conversation about soil, chefs, and survival in the produce world—all right here on Fresh from the Field Fridays from The Produce Industry Network and AgLife Media.

Join us for a powerful live-stream event as Global Women Fresh takes the central stage at Fruit Logistica with Rooted in Leadership — a dynamic conversation highlighting the voices, vision, and impact of women driving change across the global produce industry.

Join us with special guest Maria Jose Sanchez of IFEMA.From innovation to sustainability, this session celebrates female leadership, fosters connection, and inspires the next generation of trailblazers.

Visit us: https://globalwomenfresh.com/

Join us as we sit down with Stephanie Bazan, Senior VP of Commercial Strategy and Execution at Avocados From Mexico, the world’s leading supplier of fresh avocados with a remarkable 40% share in the global export market. We dive into the exponential growth of Mexican avocados, the strategies behind their global success, and what the future holds for this powerhouse commodity.

First Class Sponsor: Peak of the Market: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://peakofthemarket.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Premium  Sponsor: Zag Technological Services, Inc.:  https://www.zagtech.com/ 

Premium Sponsor: Avocados from Colombia: https://avocadoscolombia.com/ 

Premium Sponsor: The Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation: https://fvdrc.com/  

Global Women Fresh: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://globalwomenfresh.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What became of the Lewellings - the visionary brothers who transformed the American West one orchard at a time?

In the final episode of our six-part series, John and Patrick return to the verdant hills of Napa and the fertile valleys of Oregon to chart the triumphs and tragedies that defined the twilight of the Lewelling legacy.

As phylloxera silently strangles California’s vineyards, John Lewelling rises to the challenge with pioneering grafting techniques - only to fall to illness just as his wine career reaches its zenith. Meanwhile, Seth Lewelling’s quieter revolution unfolds in Oregon, where a towering Chinese laborer named Ah Bing helps bring a world-famous cherry to life - only to be cast out by America’s rising tide of anti-Chinese sentiment.

Through collapsing nurseries, bitter market failures, and political upheaval, we follow the final acts of these horticultural radicals and examine the seeds they planted in American agriculture, racial justice, and democratic reform.

Join John and Patrick as they say farewell to the Lewellings and uncover the roots of their enduring influence.

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In Sponsorship with Cornell University: Dyson Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

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Join the History of Fresh Produce Club for ad-free listening, bonus episodes, book discounts and access to an exclusive chatroom community.

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• Share this episode with your friends
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-----------

Step into history - literally! Now is your chance to own a pair of The History of Fresh Produce sneakers. Fill out the form here and get ready to walk through the past in style.

-----------

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@historyoffreshproduce

Email: [email protected]

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast, Patrick Kelly chats with Michael Chavez live from the NEPC Trade Show in Boston. They discuss key topics in the produce industry, including business relationships, current trends, and the value of face-to-face connections at trade shows.