TLC Todd-versations

Life can sure come into focus when you slow down.

At least it did for Rick Nahmias on one of his strolls with his pup. No stranger to seeing the world from behind a lens, Rick wanted to connect need, in this case, hunger, with an abundant and ready supply of backyard fruit. Enter his brainchild, Food Forward, a B to B fresh-produce connector. They are more than that because Food forward rescues produce destined for landfills and rehomes it to food banks, pantries, and organizations in the business of feeding people in their communities.

Todd would love to put Rick and his team out of business, but until that day, you can learn more about how to help them meet moments of need at  https://foodforward.org

We thought the oath was “Do no harm,” but it’s not. When the medical oath is taken, the promise is not to divulge and to keep secret your knowledge. Yes, that is true.

You’ve got to love a guy that willingly breaks that oath every day by sharing his medical knowledge with people to expand toolbelts of information. His efforts make us more competent captains of our destinies so we can positively participate in our health.

Todd is honored to know Alan and his wife, Cheryl. This team lives their lives with hearts wide open. They ask themselves daily how they can better serve. From the books “Feeding Baby Greene” and “Raising Baby Greene”, the White Out Movement, starting what became the pediatric arm of WebMD, to the creator of the original TICC-TOCC, Transitioning Immediate Cord Clamping to Optimal Cord Clamping, they are invested in our health. https://www.drgreene.com

Organic is better.” -Matt Ryan

Matt is on a mission to find more affordable ways to get organics in the hands of the consumer.  Listen in as he chats with Todd-versations about the work Soli’s bio farms are doing to prove the superior attributes of organic, ways to mitigate the cost and environmental impact of outdoor farming by farming indoors and providing consistent supply for the demand.  

He’s out to change expectations. Good chat!

Create incentive. Mitigate risk.

Who knew a master's thesis at Cornell would turn into Produce Pay in less than a decade? Listen as Todd chats with Pablo Borquez about how they are fulfilling a promise to those that have come before them and those that will follow.

Farming and trading challenges. Hidden pitfalls that the world economy has exposed. Listen to this insightful discussion about standards, sustainability, and equity.

Why unicorns? 

They symbolize uniqueness and, as such, a rare if ever existent find. Todd summed up his chat with Lisa McNeece of Grimmway Farms and Nelia Alamo of Calavo Growers this way, "You two are amazing people in this industry. You're like unicorns. You're one in a million."

Todd-versations is honored to have them on the broadcast. Here's to many more years of fun and frivolity while making things happen.

“Our ‘Stealth Health’ menu strategy features healthier, flavor-driven menu options, and is working well for us." -Ken Toong

If you want to have an idea of who your customers will be in the next one to four years, visit a college campus. 

Come along with Todd as he chats with Ken Toong and Garett DiStefano of UMass Amherst Dining Program. This Program is the gold standard for a college dining experience. 

Here are a few of their awards.

-Annual Marketing Excellence Award, given by Produce Business.

-The Loyal E. Horton Award from the National Association of Colleges and Universities for outstanding residential dining program.

-Princeton Review Number 1 Best Campus Food

-Global Restaurant Awards, Sustainability Award

-Gold Medal, National Champions Culinary Showcase

There are a ton more!

These are some of their past produce partnerships:

-Mushroom Council, 

-the Hass Avocado Board 

-National Mango Board 

"At one point, I thought growing your food was critical. Then I thought rescuing food was critical. And then I thought eating the food already being created was critical. I've come to realize that it's all important." -Justin Levy

And at Conscious Alliance they're going to keep pushing on all fronts to fight hunger and food insecurity. Justin Levy, Executive Director, chats with Todd about how the Alliance is the work of artists, musicians, hunger heroes, and people willing to leverage their skills to end hunger. We are in this together as part of the world family.

From a suggestion at Live Aid, Farm Aid was born. The mission was simply to help farmers thrive. They succeeded beyond their wildest expectations.

How do they remain relevant and change the course of family farms in America? By bringing the best that music has to offer, promoting food from family farms, and growing the good food movement as they strengthen the relationships between farmers and local and regional markets.

Listen as Todd chats with Jennifer Fahy, Communications Director at Farm Aid. The story continues to be written with your help.

A magical place where the most flavorful citrus grows.

That is a lofty claim, but this brand had the chops to back it up. Limitless Variety. Unexpected flavors. Exceptional Fruit. Dedicated small family farmers. Perfect conditions where Sweet Valley Citrus grow, flourish and develop their super sweet flavor.

Todd has a great time with two of this brand’s farmers, Matt Cruce and Kyli Lamar. We challenge you to listen and get to know these hardworking, dedicated farmers, and get in line to get some of their citrus gold.

Bring a score card and write in pencil, this episode has more turns than a backroad.  

Don’t be fooled into thinking that water issues in California don’t affect you. California is the world’s 5th largest supplier of food, cotton fiber, and other agricultural commodities. Despite having less than 4% of the farms in the country, California is the largest producer of food in the U.S.

This chat between Todd and Lois Henry of San Joaquin Valley Water is pivotal to your understanding of the complexities facing government, private enterprise, and citizens across the Golden State and beyond. The number of moving parts from water districts, water regions, State and Federally controlled projects, private parties, indigenous interests, and “first dibs” law is staggering.