TLC Todd-versations

There are no shortcuts to success. 

And in the Controlled Environment Agriculture world, Abby Prior of Bright Farms can testify. Things that could cripple almost any operation were experiences and opportunities for Abby and her Brightfarmers to learn, plan, and face the future head-on. Listen as Abby graciously answers Todd's questions and shares about things that stood in their way and how they overcame and triumphed on their Bright corner of the planet.

What does the perfect marriage of science and nature look like? 

It looks verdant, with endless opportunities for growth in the produce and floral categories. Listen as Todd-versations chats with Gordon Robertson of Verdant Technologies about their science of freshness.

They are upping the game from field to table for freshness and sustainability!

The power of fermentation. It’s not just about your home brew beer anymore.

The Better Meat Co. is on a mission to revolutionize the meat industry by creating a new and better way to make meat by harnessing the power of fermentation. In this episode, Paul Shapiro CEO shares with Todd-versations that they want to make a meat experience that is delicious, satisfying, and affordable. 

Lots to learn and explore as we hear the benefits of TBMC’s rhiza micoproteins. Planetary health. Nutrient-dense. Allergen-free. Complete protein. The list of pluses assures us that this is worthy of a shout-out!

Paul is the author of the national bestseller Clean Meat: How Growing Meat Without Animals Will Revolutionize Dinner and the World, a four-time TEDx speaker, and the host of the Business for Good Podcast.

Like the superheroes they are…

AgroThrive’s mission is to improve the health of our soils, seas, and skies by safely repurposing nutrient-dense organic wastes into sustainable bio-fertilizers.

Todd-versations chats with Will Daniels about how their Progressive Digestion Process (PDP) marries perfectly with a growing population’s need to decrease its food waste footprint, rebuild soil ecology, and protect our waterways and oceans of the world.

What do you call a force of nature?

You call it Karen Archipley, co-mastermind of Archi's Acres. What hasn't she done, and how many thousands of lives have the dream she and her husband Colin started in 2005 changed?

Do not miss this chat! Karen wears the softest gloves ever, but her punch packs a wallop. Nothing is off the table for this discussion about organic decertification for hydroponic, Post-traumatic Stress (no D because it isn't a disorder), educating the next generation of farmers, veterans, and so much more.

We’d bet the farm on this one!

Is there such a thing as too many "Os”?

Not when it comes to the trifecta of OPN (Organic Produce Network), OPS (Organic Produce Summit), and OGS (Organic Grower Summit). Listen as Todd-versations chats with Matt Seeley, CEO and wearer of many hats, about the impetus for each one, what they cover, and who they serve. 

Names dropped, dates given, and predictions made. Don't miss Todd and Matt in action.

Starting in 1858 in Victoria, British Columbia, amid the Canadian Gold Rush, Oppy has always been a champion of innovation and opportunity.

Here is the evidence. Oppy established Vancouver's first produce warehouse in 1887. Their founder, David Oppenheimer, was mayor from 1888 to 1891 and was credited with developing the city's infrastructure. They imported the first mandarin oranges from Japan in 1891, the Granny Smith in 1956, and from 1973 to 1988, they brought us Royal Galas, Braeburn, and Fuji apples.

“Expect the world from us.” To some, those might seem daunting words to live up to, but to Kori Martin, at Oppy, they are words she strives to live up to every day. Oppy’s goal is to add value to the needs of its partnerships with growers, retailers, and logistics. They do this with careful attention paid to developing their internal company culture.

"SAVRpak is more of a mission than a product. The product is just the vehicle."

We are talking to another push-the-initiative, problem-solving company and individual on Todd-versations. The folks this month are all solution-oriented. Meet Grant Stafford from SAVRpak. He is part of a problem-solving team working to eliminate waste one carton, one shipment, one meal, and one bouquet at a time.

When asked, "what is SAVRpak," Grant said, "it's the hall monitor that leverages physics and thermodynamics to keep food and flowers fresher longer". Speaking about their innovations, Grant continued, "we have some science and some tricks in physics." Spoiler alert...Understatement! Todd-versations believes a whole lot is going on that makes SAVRpak the award-winning company they have become today.

When you think of honey, what comes to mind? 

Would it be money laundering, fraud, and deception? Or would it be golden sweet nectar, buzzing bees, and a field of wildflowers? Unfortunately, the answer is all of the above.

We need to recognize that there is a positive cost of food and cheap has a hidden cost. What we avoid today will come back to haunt us in the future as a dwindling food supply, crops no longer being viable, and decreased benefits of an adulterated honey supply.

Listen as Todd chats with Douglas Raggio of Pass the Honey about the state of the honey industry and the passion he has for making changes that will ensure our dwindling bee population isn't lost and beekeepers have a future. 

The Regenerative Honeycomb Initiative, a Pass the Honey must do, is designed to create the gold standard for honey, protect hives and bees, and elevate consumer awareness.

"Every neighborhood is different. Our goal is to be a part of the community by being a part of the solution, whether providing the right product mix or lending a hand with one of our outreach programs. We recognize that it is about the people we serve in the communities in which we live."

As you watch this episode, listen as Jeff Cady shares from his heart about the company he loves, the co-workers he takes great pride in working alongside, and the communities they serve. 

Two weeks ago, an unfathomable incident took place in Buffalo at one of the Tops Markets. Two weeks and two days ago, we recorded this show. We don’t know the answers to the violence and hopelessness that is tearing at the moral fabric of our country, we do know that we all need to reflect on the circumstances and times in which we are living and be the ones we are waiting for, choosing to do good every day, and be willing to answer and be responsible for our actions. 

Please take note of this link: https://www.topsmarkets.com/BuffaloSurvivorsFund. Tops Market has partnered with the National Compassion Fund to allow you to give wings to your feelings and provide direct financial assistance to the survivors of the deceased and those directly affected by this tragedy.

We stand with you in seeking positive, common-sense changes that support mental health, hope, and changes to the outlook and circumstances that motivated this brutally violent behavior.