This week’s episode is coming to you straight from the desert heat and produce sweet! With Dan taking a well-deserved week off, Ross “The Produce Boss” is joined by a very special (and slightly mischievous) guest — Patrick Kelly, who’s officially hijacked the mic and taken over the show!

Join Ross and Patrick as they dive into:

• 🚗 Grocery store adventures across the West Coast
• 🥝 The buzz and highlights from the West Coast Produce Expo
• 🍊 Behind-the-scenes moments from Palm Desert

It’s a fun, fast-paced, and fresh episode packed with laughter, industry insights, and all things produce. Don’t miss this west coast takeover of Fresh From the Field Fridays — only on The Produce Industry Network!

📍 Recorded LIVE from Palm Desert, CA!

In this flavorful episode of the Global Fresh Series, Patrick Kelly joins the conversation to talk all things fresh—from trade show trends to air-fried tacos during Memorial Day. We also explore the rising international audience of the Global Fresh Series and celebrate a milestone moment for Marlene, the beloved "Daughter of the Alps," as she marks 30 years with VOG. Don’t miss the laughs, insights, and a few tasty surprises!

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A new Pope has been chosen! And that got us thinking: have Popes of the past shaped the history of fruits and vegetables?

In this month’s livestream, John and Patrick explore the surprising connections between the Papacy and produce.

From Popes with a passion for fresh fruits to the hidden stories of the Vatican gardens, this episode offers a fresh perspective on the role of produce in the lives of history’s holiest leaders.

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

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In this powerful episode of The Produce Industry Podcast, host Patrick Kelly welcomes Paul Rice, former CEO of Fair Trade USA and a global leader in ethical trade, to discuss the role of Fairtrade in the fresh produce supply chain. With decades of experience fighting for fairness in farming, Paul shares the challenges and triumphs behind the global Fairtrade movement—and how it’s shaping the future of agriculture.

Paul also introduces his compelling new book, “Every Purchase Matters,” which dives deep into the intersection of commerce and conscience. He shares insights from the book on how companies can thrive while prioritizing people and the planet, and what this means for the produce industry moving forward.

From empowering smallholder farmers to meeting the demands of today’s conscious consumer, this episode explores how doing the right thing is not just good ethics—it’s smart business.

This week on Fresh From The Field Fridays from The Produce Industry Network and AgLife Media, Ross and Dan welcome the arrival of stone fruit season and spotlight fresh Memorial Day offerings. Special guest Chef Jeffery Schissel joins the guys to share some top-notch grilling tips and seasonal recipes. Then, it’s off to Sigona’s Produce to sample a perfectly ripe Cherimoya and grab one last taste of citrus with a juicy Gold Nugget Tangerine. The season’s changing—and we’re lovin’ it! So tune in and turn on!

Join us for a historic first as Global Women Fresh presents its first-ever Café Virtual in Spanish, bringing together voices that empower, uplift, and lead across the global produce industry.

Hosted by the incredible Julie Escobar, Co-Founder of Global Women Fresh, and the inspiring Coach Jen Monterroso, this live segment highlights Latina leadership, connection, and community within the fresh produce space.

Get ready for powerful insights, real stories, and an inclusive conversation focused on empowering women around the world—now en Español!

Tune in, connect, and be part of this groundbreaking moment for Global Women Leaders!

www.globalwomenfresh.com

In this episode of the Global Fresh Series, we take you on a tour of the international trade show circuit, diving into the key takeaways from Freshfel Europe’s sustainability-focused events and the innovation-packed Macfrut 2025 in Rimini.

We also explore the booming global demand for fresh cherries, their emergence as a premium fruit, and how they’re shaping sourcing and strategy in key markets. Finally, we zoom in on China’s growing influence in the produce space — from skyrocketing cherry imports to evolving consumer expectations.

Tune in for a fresh look at the global produce pulse — where trade, taste, and trends meet.

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We're back with Part 2 of our special coverage from the ROFDA Conference, and co-host Dan Avakian joins Patrick Kelly as we dive deeper into the innovation, collaboration, and leadership shaping the retail and wholesale produce space.

In this episode, we sit down with a phenomenal lineup of guests including:

🥬 Brent Shammo – bringing insights on fresh strategies and customer engagement

🥕 Teresa Pope – sharing her perspective on supplier partnerships and sustainability

🍊 Miguel Herrera – exploring distribution excellence and operational growth

🍇 Patrick Bittle – highlighting tech trends and future-forward thinking in the industry

🍎 Rob Austin – discussing leadership, legacy, and building strong produce programs

Whether you're a buyer, grower, retailer, or industry enthusiast, this episode is packed with powerful takeaways from key voices helping to shape the future of produce.

Tune in and stay fresh with The Produce Industry Podcast!

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.

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

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

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 sweet wines that made even the Romans jealous.

At its heart was a rich and fertile land, one so abundant that Homer himself sang its praises. From pomegranates to elephants, from olive groves to slave-worked estates, Carthage was an empire rooted in the earth. And behind it all loomed a mysterious figure: Mago of Carthage, the so-called "father of agriculture," whose lost treatise would echo across centuries.

Join John and Patrick as they unearth the agricultural engine behind Carthage’s meteoric rise. A story of invention, ambition, and the fields that fed an empire on the brink of war with Rome.

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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.

Support us!

• Share this episode with your friends
• Give a 5-star rating
• Write a review

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Subscribe to our biweekly newsletter here for extra stories related to recent episodes, book recommendations, a sneak peek of upcoming episodes and more.

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Email: [email protected]