It’s Cinco de Mayo and we’re bringing the heat on this week’s episode of The Produce Industry Podcast! Host Patrick Kelly recaps an incredible week in produce, including a shoutout to the ROFDA Conference and a sneak peek at our upcoming two-part recap series from the event. We’re also diving into the latest industry headlines:

• Whole Foods Market debuts a new podcast
• Global Women Fresh launches Season 1 exclusively on The Produce Industry Network
• USDA sanctions four businesses for PACA violations
• Associated Grocers announces a new CEO
• And the California walnut crop gets a strong start to the season

Plus, we’re giving a special Cinco de Mayo shoutout to our episode sponsor, Yo Quiero!, the brand behind your favorite guac, salsa, and queso. Tune in for the insights, stay for the flavor!

This week on Fresh From the Field Fridays on The Produce Industry Network, your favorite host Dan “The Produce Man” Avakian is joined by special co-host Patrick Kelly, giving Ross the week off!

The duo hits the streets of Tucson to explore local grocery stores, dive into the fresh fruits and vegetables on display, and talk about what’s in the fields and what’s on the horizon for your produce aisle.

From in-store freshness to field-side updates, get the inside scoop on what’s ripe, what’s hot, and what’s headed your way!

Let’s face it—our industry keeps evolving, and so do we. That’s why we’re launching “The Raw Pour” with Carmell Clark (Fortune 500 executive coach) and “Café Virtual” with Jen Monterroso 🌎☕️

These bi-weekly conversations are more than just coffee chats—they’re unfiltered, real, and designed to inspire. You’ll walk away with fresh perspectives and practical tools to grow your career and your network.

And what better platform to host these bold conversations than The Produce Industry Network? 🌏🎯

We invite you to pull up a (virtual) chair and join us on April 16th to our first chat of 2025.

Get ready to dive into the world of grapes! In this juicy episode, we chat with Ignacio Caballero about “Have a Grape Day,” the bold new consumer campaign from the Global Grape Group — a united front of grape growers from Chile, Peru, and Mexico. Ignacio shares his passion for this powerhouse fruit and how global collaboration is set to supercharge grape consumption across the U.S. From marketing strategies to flavor innovation, we’re talking all things grapes. You won’t want to miss this fresh take on how a simple fruit is making a worldwide splash!

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

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

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

How did a drunk church-goer influence the Navy’s go-to-beverage? What does a Persian fruit beverage and sherbet powder have to do with each other? How did an American favorite drink fall from grace? And why does tomato juice taste so much better on a plane?

In this month's livestream, John and Patrick each reveal their top three produce-based drinks from history.

From orange juice’s vital role in World War II to grape juice’s unexpected place in the fight against alcoholism, these drinks don’t just quench thirst - they reflect the spirit of their times.

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

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This week on The Produce Industry Podcast, host Patrick Kelly is joined LIVE in studio at AgLife Studios by two powerhouse guests making big waves in produce—and even bigger impacts in the world 🌎🍊.

Albert Perez of Continental Fresh, whose company is leading the charge in giving back to clean water infrastructure in the Dominican Republic. And Martin Casanova of Thx! Dreams, a purpose-driven brand that uplifts and supports farm workers and their families through every package of fresh produce.

These are two dynamic leaders from companies that prove doing good and doing business can go hand in hand. 💧❤️ From water to workforce, it’s all about impact—and this episode is one you won’t want to miss!

Catch it now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

How to inspire consumers to up their fresh produce consumption? Listen to this flavorful episode, with the incomparable Chef Lala—celebrity chef, certified nutritionist, and advocate for healthy Latin cuisine. From the sizzling sounds of her kitchen to the heartfelt stories behind her recipes, Chef Lala shares how food can be both delicious and deeply meaningful. We talk about her culinary journey, her mission to blend culture with health, and how she's redefining what it means to cook with corazón. Grab your apron (and maybe a snack), because this episode is serving up inspiration, one dish at a time.

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

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

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

Robert Fortune’s journey was far from over. After infiltrating China in disguise, Fortune now sets his sights on the Wuyi Mountains—steeped in legend, veiled in mist, and home to the most coveted tea in the world: black tea. Guided by his newly appointed servant, the enigmatic Sing-Hoo, Fortune pushes deeper into China’s forbidden interior, navigating treacherous paths and even more treacherous politics. But not all goes according to plan. His prized green tea shipment meets an unfortunate fate, while back in India, the impulsive botanist William Jameson jeopardizes the mission with his rash decisions.

Yet amid the chaos, Fortune finds unexpected wisdom among Buddhist monks, who not only reveal the secrets of cultivating tea but also teach him how to brew the perfect cup. It’s in these sacred temples, not the markets of London, that the future of tea begins to shift.

As Fortune’s precious tea plants take root in the Himalayan foothills, Indian tea is born—forever altering the global balance of trade. From British agent to American hire, Robert Fortune’s legacy would be one of ambition, deception, and botanical revolution. He didn't just steal tea—he transformed it.

Join John and Patrick for the thrilling conclusion of Fortune’s audacious adventure, as they uncover the spiritual, imperial, and agricultural dimensions of one of history’s greatest botanical heists.

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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
• Give a 5-star rating
• Write a review

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Email: historyoffreshproduce@gmail.com