The Produce Moms Podcast

Lori spends time chatting with Marc Blake, Vice President of Business for the National Dairy Council and Mac Riggen, Director of Marketing for Chelan Fresh, a Washington-based produce provider of pears, apples and cherries. Chelan Fresh has been collaborating with the Dairy Council, the USDA, and the NFL for the past 7 years in a program called Fuel Up to Play 60. Fuel Up to Play 60 is a nutrition and physical activity program implemented in schools to help encourage healthier lifestyles in our youth.

"The solution to our food insecurity lies within the networking and donors. "

This week on The Produce Moms Podcast, Lori spends time talking to Shara Merten, the CEO of the Yuma Food Bank. This community food bank is the largest food effort in all of Yuma and La Paz County. To give perspective, Yuma itself has 205,000 inhabitants, and there are 200,000 individuals that benefit from the food bank! It truly is a vital part of the community.

"We are the end of the supply chain for all of the fresh grown product. That way it doesn't go into the landfill. We find places for it."

While the primary focus of the food bank is the community of Yuma, the produce that thrives there in the winter is the only source of US-based produce! Not only are they feeding the food-insecure in Yuma, but they are feeding America during the winter months. The most challenging time of year for the community is summer, when less produce is readily available, and children are out of school. During these months, the Yuma Food Bank partners with the Feeding America Network, to make sure the individuals in their community still have access to fresh produce.

"Volunteers are really the foundation of the work staff that we have. Getting people to volunteer their time is a treasure... Having community time with your family at the food bank has a double side. It teaches our youth that there is more to the world than what revolves around them."

The Yuma Food Bank is such an amazing example of a network of people who have joined together to help make the community and the world a better place.

Check out yumafoodbank.org to learn more! You'll also want to head over to feedingamerica.org, a partner in Yuma's efforts, and one of the nation's leading resources for providing hunger relief.

Some Topics we talk about in this episode:

• Introduction // Shara Merten - 1:30
• Where is the Yuma Food Bank - 3:40
• The Impact of the Yuma Food Bank - 6:08
• Yuma's Distribution - 10:41
• About the Feeding America Network - 13:12
• How to Get Involved - 17:06
• Looking at the Legacy of Yuma and Moving Forward - 20:30
• Wrap-up - 25:36

How to get involved

• Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week! https://www.facebook.com/groups/316715662104709/
• Reach out to us - we'd love to hear more about where you're at in life and business! Find out more at www.theproducemom.com

If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we'd love for you to help us spread the word!

This week on The Produce Moms Podcast, Lori spends time talking to Shara Merten, the CEO of the Yuma Food Bank. This community food bank is the largest food effort in all of Yuma and La Paz County. To give perspective, Yuma itself has 205,000 inhabitants, and there are 200,000 individuals that benefit from the food bank! It truly is a vital part of the community.

"She saw that there was a huge surplus of fresh fruits and vegetables that were being discarded every day... and on the other hand there were families who were suffering from diseases and not living their best lives because there was scarcity."

In this Episode of The Produce Moms Podcast, Lori had the privilege of speaking with Ashley Miyasaki. Ashley is the Co-Founder of Pulp Pantry, a company on a mission to eliminate the waste created from juicing, while providing the world with delicious, healthy snacks! For every pound of juice, approximately four pounds of pulp is created. Pulp Pantry was created when the founders realized that most people just discard the pulp. The pulp contains vital nutrients that were simply adding to the waste piled in landfills across Los Angeles, and the country.

"We see ourselves as a sustainable food company that is on a mission to make fruits and vegetables as ubiquitous as grains and sugar."

What kind of snacks does Pulp Pantry sell? The snacks created resemble granola. Think of your favorite childhood snacks, like Cinnamon Toast Crunch, only healthier. Each Pulp Pantry snack contains 50% vegetables, filled with fiber, prebiotics, and is free from common allergens. Pulp Pantry believes that food should be delicious, but also make you feel good!

"You can have the healthiest products in the world, but if it's not tasty, people won't buy it. And we won't have the impact that we want to have, both from a nutrition/health and sustainability perspective."

You can find Pulp Pantry at www.pulppantry.com, and check them out on Instagram @pulppantry

For a limited time, you can use promo code "MOMS" to get a discount on your next order!

Some Topics we talk about in this episode:

• Introduction // Ashley Miyasaki - 1:33
• How Did Pulp Pantry Get Its Start - 3:55
• What are Pulp Pantry's Products - 8:48
• Sustainability and Gut Health - 14:04
• Pulp Pantry's Mission - 19:56
• Wrap-up - 21:18

How to get involved

• Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week! https://www.facebook.com/groups/316715662104709/
• Reach out to us - we'd love to hear more about where you're at in life and business! Find out more at www.theproducemom.com

If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we'd love for you to help us spread the word!

Lori had the privilege of speaking with Ashley Miyasaki. Ashley is the Co-Founder of Pulp Pantry, a company on a mission to eliminate the waste created from juicing, while providing the world with delicious, healthy snacks! For every pound of juice, approximately four pounds of pulp is created. Pulp Pantry was created when the founders realized that most people just discard the pulp. The pulp contains vital nutrients that were simply adding to the waste piled in landfills across LA, and the country.

"The Watermelon Board represents 1500 shippers and growers in the United States"

In this episode of the The Produce Moms Podcast, Lori sits down to discuss one of America's favorite fruits with Jesse Wiggins. Jesse is a fifth generation farmer and the President of the Watermelon Promotion Board. At 25 years of age, he is the youngest individual to ever hold this position and brings fresh perspective to the market. Jesse and Lori discuss the importance of the Watermelon Promotion Board, and why it holds significance for growers, shippers, and also consumers.

"The biggest time for watermelons is in July. That's when it's the hottest, and it's grown in every state."

We now have access to watermelon 365 days a year! It is produce that can be grown in every state, and also imported, which gives the growing season its year-round boost. Jesse tackles the age-old question, "Is watermelon a fruit or a vegetable?" and gives some great facts about watermelon. Lori and Jesse share some delicious watermelon recipes, that you have probably never thought to try!

"Watermelons are 92% water. So, if you don't like to drink water… cut up a watermelon, and you're still getting a good source of hydration."

The Watermelon Promotion Board's website is full of great information, recipes, and scientific facts that you'll want to be sure to check out. You can find our more at watermelon.org.

Some Topics we talk about in this episode:

• Introduction // Jesse Wiggins - 1:16
• Why is This an Important Board? - 2:50
• Jesse's Watermelon Heritage and Rise to Presidency - 5:35
• Watermelon 101 - 8:20
• Watermelon Recipe Ideas - 12:40
• Wrap-up - 19:45

How to get involved

• Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week! https://www.facebook.com/groups/316715662104709/
• Reach out to us - we'd love to hear more about where you're at in life and business! Find out more at www.theproducemom.com

If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we'd love for you to help us spread the word!

Lori sits down to discuss one of America’s favorite fruits with Jesse Wiggins. Jesse is a fifth generation farmer and the President of the Watermelon Promotion Board. At 25 years of age, he is the youngest individual to ever hold this position and brings fresh perspective to the market. Jesse and Lori discuss the importance of the Watermelon Promotion Board, and why it holds significance for growers, shippers, and also consumers.

"We have to think beyond what's on the menu, because people are starting to care more about, not just how things taste, but they want to know that the food is good for them, and it's also good for the world. "

In this week's episode, Lori had the honor of chatting with Missy Shaaphok, RD. Missy is the Manager of Global Nutrition and Sustainability for Taco Bell. Her mission is to continue finding new ways to integrate healthy food into the fast food market. Over the past several years, her team has been responsible for many of the monumental steps towards greater nutrition offered on the Taco Bell Menu. From removal of artificial ingredients, to the addition of cage-free eggs, Missy's team has been working to provide fresh and healthy options for Taco Bell customers. Some have claimed that Taco Bell is the healthiest fast food restaurant!

"Nutrition is so much more than people typically think. It's a combination of science and emotion… How the food is grown… emotionally everyone has a personal and cultural connection with food… It's the connection with food and culture that brings out the joy in eating and consuming the food that nourishes our body. "

There are over 46 million customers served at Taco Bell each week, which makes Missy's job no small feat. She and her team are continually working on new ideas that will reach a very large customer demographic. Missy shares about her team's food innovation and ways that they have worked to make the Taco Bell menu work for anyone's dietary preferences. She shares that anything on the menu can be customized and gives some examples of modifications that can help you stick to your healthy eating plan.

"We want to make eating well the easy and convenient choice for you."

Missy has a passion to provide nutritious food options, and increase the amount of produce consumed by Taco Bell customers. She even shares some insight on future plans for the Taco Bell menu.

"The introduction of our power menu increased our fresh produce offerings by 175,000,000 pounds per year"

Some Topics we talk about in this episode:

• Introduction // Guest - 1:15
• How Do You Bring Nutrition into Taco Bell? - 3:15
• How Do You Define Sustainability - 5:45
• How Do You Define Nutrition? - 7:20
• Creating Menu Items for the Millions - 10:42
• Customer Feedback - 16:20
• Missy's Insight on the Produce Industry - 20:20
• Increasing the Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables - 24:20
• What's Next for Taco Bell - 27:20
• Wrap-up - 30:58

How to get involved

• Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week! https://www.facebook.com/groups/316715662104709/
• Reach out to us - we'd love to hear more about where you're at in life and business! Find out more at www.theproducemom.com

If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we'd love for you to help us spread the word!

Missy Shaaphok, RD. is the Manager of Global Nutrition and Sustainability for Taco Bell. Her mission is to continue finding new ways to integrate healthy food into the fast food market. Her team has been responsible for many monumental steps towards greater nutrition offered. From removal of artificial ingredients, to the addition of cage-free eggs...working to provide fresh and healthy options for customers. Some claimed that Taco Bell is the healthiest fast food restaurant!

"We as consumers have to re-educate ourselves. It's my hope that Produce Moms can be a vehicle to educate us to shift our mindset."

In this episode of The Produce Moms, Lori takes some time to recap all of the incredible episodes that have been released so far on the podcast. Lori's passion is to help moms everywhere become more educated on produce, and the issues that affect sustainability, availability and price of produce. She gives a brief history of the mission behind Produce Moms before recapping some of the more notable podcasts from this season.

"We truly want to make sure this produce is showcasing the work that matters the most."

Lori gives some brief previews of episodes to come on The Produce Mom. Listeners can be on the lookout for some exciting guests, including the dietician from Taco Bell. Who know that those words could be in the same sentence?! There will also be an episode with the Director of Sports Nutrition for the Duke University Basketball team. As well as many others. You won't want to miss a single episode.

"The truth needs to be told about your fresh produce. There is too much misinformation out there. We will speak the truth, and bring in experts to talk about the topics that matter the most."

Some Topics we talk about in this episode:

• Introduction - 1:18
• A Brief History of Produce Moms - 2:30
• The Healing Qualities of Fresh Produce - 9:20
• Nature Ripe and Breeding Produce - 11:34
• Tonya Antle and Organic Produce - 13:30
• Future Episodes - 15:30
• Hot Topics in the Produce World - 21:12
• Wrap-up - 27:12

How to get involved

• Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week! https://www.facebook.com/groups/316715662104709/
• Reach out to us - we'd love to hear more about where you're at in life and business! Find out more at www.theproducemom.com

If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we'd love for you to help us spread the word!