Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and Veggies

Have you ever been disappointed with the fruits and vegetables you have bought in the grocery store? Of course you have! There is nothing more frustrating in the grocery shopping experience than finding some beautiful fresh produce on the shelf only to get it home and find that it is flavorless or the texture is just not right.Well never fear! There are some very smart people in the field of horticulture working hard to solve that problem. And today we have one of those people with us today on the podcast. Our guest today has been called the “Willy Wonka of Veggies!” This Cornell professor and plant expert creates new breeds of vegetables that offer exciting new flavors, and other adaptations valuable to farmers and eager eaters alike. And all through natural breeding processes.Joining us today is Michael Mazourek, the Calvin Knoyes Keeney Associate Professor of Vegetable Breeding at Cornell University. He is going to tell us about that work and also share with us some his remarkable achievements. One of which was a new variety of squash that has taken the vegetable world by storm.

This week we are going to hear about some very important work being done by organizations helping to alleviate hunger. When we think of places that are experiencing a lack of food and malnutrition, we often first think of places in third-world countries or far-off nations. But hunger is a big problem right here in the United States and has been for many years. But fortunately, there are people and organizations dedicating great energy and time to ease that struggle for the hungry among us.One such organization is the Southeast Regional Cooperative based in Atlanta, GA. (SERC). SERC provides fresh produce to food banks in seven Southeastern states. As part of the national organization, Feeding America, they aggregate surplus produce from around the southeast region and across the country to match the demand from their member food banks.We are delighted to welcome to the show this week Chris Flint who is the executive director of SERC to tell us about the crucial work they are doing to fight food insecurity. Chris says there is enough food in America to make sure no one goes hungry. Yet the problem is ongoing. Tune in to learn about the challenges they face and the inspiring story about the progress they are making in feeding the hungry among us.

It's peak season for all kinds of berries right now. So today we have a very special guest to tell us about some of the exciting new varieties of berries you can find in your local produce aisle. Laudan Chauffin is Marketing Director for the Berry Fresh company joins us today to enlighten us about blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries.Founded in 2005, Berry Fresh, is dedicated to providing flavor-forward, high-quality berries to the US and Canadian markets. Headquartered in Los Angeles and with distribution centers in Oregon, Texas and New Jersey they service grocery stores and markets from coast to coast. Committed to providing an unforgettable eating experience, they are constantly searching for better and better berry varieties through genetic research. They grow these berries year-round beginning in Peru and Chile, then coming north with the change of seasons to Mexico and then into the U.S.Laudan has spent most of her career marketing and promoting berries so there is no one more knowledgeable and passionate about these delicious fruits. Tune in to hear how they are grown, how they get these fragile delicacies from field to the produce aisle, and how to store them to keep them fresh longer.

Spring has arrived and spring vegetables have been showing up in your local produce aisles and markets for a few weeks. now. But this week is the sweetest week of the spring vegetable season. That is because this is the week that the sweetest onions in the world will be first shipped for the 2025 season. Yes, it's time for a fresh crop of Vidalia Onions.Today we are going to celebrate Vidalia Onions and we have a very special guest joining us to tell us all about them. John Shuman and his family-owned Shuman Farms has been in the sweet onion industry for three generations. He joins us today to tell us all about Vidalia Onions and the history of Shuman Farms. And about sweet onions from other regions like Peru. And he will also tell us about how they are giving back to the communities they serve all over the country with some very impactful charity work.

On this week's podcast, we have two very special guests who are redefining snack foods. But this is more than a story of a successful start-up and exciting new food product. This husband-and-wife team turned a deeply personal tragedy into a mission to help others eat healthier. In doing so, they created a company that is disrupting the snack food and fresh produce aisles to offer delicious products that are also good for you.When Megan and Scott Reamer's son, Jackson, was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, they began researching anti-inflammatory diets to help ease Jackson's struggle with the disease. That labor of love inspired them to create a new company to offer to consumers some of the delicious snacks they created for Jackson to enjoy. Thus Jackson's Chips was born offering sweet potato and regular potato chips cooked in a way that made them much healthier. But Megan and Scott wanted the company to be much more than a potato chip maker. They wanted it to help keep Jackson's legacy alive and help others facing similar diseases. Tune in to hear this heart-rending but also heart-warming story of this brave young man.

This week we welcome back to the show a very special guest. He is a longtime friend and colleague who used to work with the four of us Produce Buzzers many years ago. Since that time he has been a rising star in the produce business and has worked for some of the biggest names in the produce industry. With over 36 years' experience in the business, he's a true veteran of the produce world who could enlighten us on just about any item that you buy in the produce department. But his current gig is with Ocean Mist Farms, a grower, packer, and shipper of all types of vegetables, from a wide variety of lettuces, cabbages, and brassicas to cilantro, beets, and radishes. They are a big player in all those veggies but their signature product is artichokes. They are the largest supplier of this favorite in the produce aisle. But Mark has some new products to tell us about today that you must stick around to hear about. These new offerings are exceedingly delicious and guaranteed to make your meal planning so much easier. They recreate that indulgent experience you have had with veggies in your favorite restaurant. So you won't want to miss hearing about them.

Our guest this week is a fellow podcaster who also promotes the eating of more fresh fruits and veggies, so we are especially delighted to welcome her to the show. Amanda Keefer handles brand partnerships and marketing communications for the Healthy Family Project in addition to producing and hosting their podcast. The Healthy Family Project is making a huge impact in getting people to eat healthier. They are dedicated to creating a healthier generation through easy, fun, and inspiring content. All their content is crafted with families in mind, showing them delicious, fun, and easy to make recipes. Their Website highlights nutritional information and provides tips to get the most out of their meal planning. Their website and social media are filled with informative and entertaining videos, blog posts, and of course great podcast episodes. The Healthy Family Project is not just about providing entertaining content. Since they began a little over a decade ago, they have helped to raise more than $8 million dollars for charities devoted to feeding needy families, including Feeding America among others. And through their “Produce for Kids” promotions they are training the next generation to be lovers of fresh fruits and veggies. Tune in to get some expert tips to make your meal table healthier.

On this week's episode, we are telling our listeners to Beet It!But that's not spelled b-e-A-t but instead b-e-E-t. Yes, today we are rootin' for our favorite root! That's right! We're digging deep into the world of beets. The veggie that stains your fingers, confuses your taste buds, and somehow ended up in both salads and desserts. From the history of beets to beet recipes, beet myths to beets' symbolism in culture—if it's about beets, we're talking about it. Beets may not be the flashiest vegetable in the produce aisle, but they're certainly one of the most nutritious, flavorful, and versatile. Whether roasted, pickled, juiced, or blended into a smoothie, this deep-red root packs a powerful punch of flavor and health benefits.The Produce Buzzers will share their favorite beet recipes to delight you with delicious dishes and to boost your health. So whether you're a beet freak or just beet-curious, grab a snack, sit back, and let's turnip the fun!

Love is in the air, and… on your plate! Welcome to this week's special Valentine's Day episode of The Produce Buzzers Podcast, where we're diving into the most romantic fruits and vegetables to set the mood for love. From the aptly named passion fruit to mythical artichokes to heart-healthy beets and the silky sweetness of strawberries, we'll explore the aphrodisiac powers, symbolism, and delicious ways to incorporate these love-boosting foods into your Valentine's Day celebrations. And we will give you the seductive history of the festival which originated in Ancient Rome and the story of Romulus & Remus, the twins who founded the city.Whether you're planning a romantic dinner, a cozy night in, or just looking to add a little extra love to your meals, we've got you covered. So, grab a glass of wine, set the ambiance, and let's talk about the most seductive foods nature has to offer!

Super Bowl LIX is here! The week of Super Bowl is the biggest week for sales of avocados in the U.S. There are a lot of choices for snacks and meals for America's biggest annual TV event, but fans know that avocados and guacamole have to be on the table. And that's good for them because avocados are one of the healthiest foods you can eat, unlike perhaps a lot of the other dishes on the party menu. We've featured avocados on the podcast several times and shared our recipes and tips for how to select, store, and prepare them. But this week we have one of the world's foremost experts on the program to take that info up several notches and tell you all about them, give you great advice on how to select, store, and prepare them, and point you to some exciting promotions coming in the next week that you can take advantage of. Stephanie Bazan leads the shopper and trade marketing for Avocados From Mexico. Under her leadership and strategic vision, the demand and popularity for Mexican avocados has reached record levels. Mexico is by far the leading producer of avocados in the world. They grow almost 2 ½ times as many as the second and third largest producers, Columbia and Peru. They grow over 15 times more avocados than the U.S. And, most importantly, the quality of Mexican avocados is superior too.

Today we have a very special guest who understands that the people who grow our fruits and vegetables are special people. In fact, they are stars. Our guest has been highlighting these stars for over thirteen years on her beautiful Website FarmStarLiving.com. On that Website you will find stories of these heroes and the challenges they face to bring us the bounty of fruits and veggies you see in your produce department at your local grocery store. Mary Blackmon, is the creator of Farm Star Living and a digital media entrepreneur. She started Farm Star Living with the idea of a ‘farm to table' lifestyle that both spotlighted the farmer and farms to the consumer public by making this often misunderstood world of farming more personable, relatable, accessible and even entertaining! The site is rich with these stories but also rich with delicious recipes and very helpful tips on how to select, store, and prepare them. You will also find a lot of information about how these veggies help you stay healthy and other tips about how to live a healthier life. There is a whole section devoted to which foods can help alleviate particular ailments and conditions. It's a site that will reward you in many ways if you visit it often.

January is more than just a fresh start to the year—it's also National Slow Cooking Month! As the winter chill sets in, there's nothing more comforting than a steaming hearty stew packed full of veggies slowly blended together over hours of slow cooking. These meals can warm you up and satisfy you like no others. And it's a convenient and easy way to get your five to ten vegetables a day with the minimal amount of prep and no slaving over a hot stove or oven. So today we are going to launch our celebration of National Slow Cooking Month by suggesting some time-saving and delicious recipes that our Produce Buzzers love to make. So stay tuned and be inspired to get out that crock pot or Dutch Oven and fill it with healthy delicious veggies. You also learn about the history of how important slow methods of cooking were throughout human history. And who invented the “Crock Pot?”

This week, we're diving into one of the most universally celebrated events: New Year's! But, as we know, how people ring in the New Year varies widely depending on where you are in the world. From feasting and fireworks to unique superstitions and rituals, the way we say goodbye to one year and hello to another can be incredibly different—and deeply meaningful. We will look at the history of New Year's celebrations and a few of the varied traditions around the world which are strange and wonderful. Then we will dive into the Produce Buzzers' New Year's resolutions they have made to inspire them to eat more fresh fruits and veggies. Tune in to be inspired as well for more fresh veggies in 2025. They have some great tips for you.

So as the new year begins, we thought we would look back on the most tortuous moments in 2024's Produce Buzzers podcasts. Yes, our infamous “Home Groans.” We tried our best to “PUN-ish” you in every episode, with our fearless leader, Theresa Nolan's terrible puns. We were going to call it “The Best of Home Groan” but the word “best” just doesn't work with these awful attempts at humor. So we had to go with “The Worst of Home Groan.”   Yes, we tried to convince you every time that it was your favorite segment on the podcast. But to no avail. So many of you tuned out just as we introduced it in each episode. We showed no mercy on our guests and forced them to sit through a Home Groan as payment for appearing on the show. Amazingly, many of our guests actually returned for another episode even knowing this torture would be inflicted upon them. We just assumed they forgot this inhumane demand for appearing on the show and they took the “PUN-ishment” graciously. Some even laughed at the puns even though that is strictly forbidden.  So without further ado, we invite you to share in a little masochism and groan loudly with each of these painful samples of The Produce Buzzers “Home Groan.”  

This week we are so delighted to have our favorite guest back on the podcast. The man widely known as the “Produce Expert” is back to tell us about the delightful fruits and veggies his company Melissa's World Variety Produce sells. Which frankly could be any fruit or vegetable on the planet because Melissa's sells every fresh produce item that exists and can be sold commercially. They have thousands of items in their catalogue many of which you can only get at Melissa's. Today we are thrilled to welcome back Robert Schueller, Director of Public Relations at Melissa's and author of several books about fresh fruits and vegetables. There is no other person who has as much knowledge as Robert when it comes to the world of fresh produce. But of course, we can't talk about every fruit and vegetable that Melissa's sells, so we are going to focus in on just a few of the items that are popular this time of year. You won't want to miss this episode because what we are going to feature are truly some of the most delicious and exciting fruits on the market. Including a $400 pineapple! These fruits will put your celebrations over the top!

This week, we're diving into the colorful world of purple vegetables! From nutrient-packed purple cabbage, to purple beets, to the majestic purple eggplant, we'll uncover the secrets behind their striking hues, their incredible health benefits, and how they've become stars in cuisines around the globe.  We'll share tips on cooking with them, stories behind their origins, and even spotlight some surprising facts about why purple veggies are more than just a feast for the eyes. That's right, we're diving into the science, flavor, and fun behind one of the most striking colors in the produce aisle.  You've probably already thought about some veggies that when you think of them, you already see them as purple in color. But there are some other veggies that we usually think of as being green that have purple varieties and we will tell you about a few of those.

Today we will talk about some traditional dishes that you can serve at your meal, but we also want to feature some unique fruits and vegetables that are in season during the fall but perhaps you have not thought about including in your menu. Not that we are trying to dissuade you from the usual fruit and veggie dishes like sweet potatoes, green beans, mashed potatoes, and the like, but we thought you might want to experiment with a couple of unusual produce items that can surprise and delight your Tgiving guests.

Our guest this week is leading a renaissance in agriculture that is spreading across the country. With this movement, he believes that hunger can be eliminated. His work is not just in theory. For decades, he has been spearheading grassroots efforts in local communities in Southern California not just to provide food to needy people but to teach them all about how food is grown and the tremendous effort that goes into producing it. A.G. Kawamura is a third-generation produce grower and shipper from Orange County, California. From 2003 to 2010 he served as the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. He is the founding co-chair of Solutions from the Land, a nationally recognized non-profit that is developing innovative and sustainable climate-smart collaborations for 21st-century agriculture. For over 40 years Mr. Kawamura has pursued a lifelong goal to work towards an end to hunger and malnutrition. He is passionate about using every space that is available and practical to grow food, especially in urban areas where food is needed most. As a progressive farmer, Mr. Kawamura has a lifetime of experience working within the shrinking rural and urban boundaries of Southern California. He's been called one of the most talented agricultural specialists in the world and I think after you hear what he has to say today, you will probably agree.

This week we are going to have some more game show fun on the podcast and test our Produce Buzzers knowledge of different fruits and veggies. Once again, they will play a version of the classic TV Game Show “Jeopardy” with all the categories being about fruits and veggies. Since we are at the height of summer, we will feature summer fruits and veggies in the game. The categories are: • Berries • Stone Fruit • Melons • Leafy Greens • Nightshades • Squash How will they do? Who will win? Can you match their knowledge and get the right “questions” to the “answers?” Listen and play along. You are certain to find it entertaining. And you will learn some very interesting facts about fresh fruits and veggies.

This week's guest returns to the Produce Buzzers Podcast for his second time. He is a man who pioneered podcasting about fruits and veggies. He was probably the first person to have a radio show that focused on fresh produce. Long before we had the term “podcasting” our guest was on the radio airwaves across the country with a show called “The Produce Pair' that he started way back in 1998, he teamed up with another fresh produce colleague to talk all things fruit and veggie. The show was syndicated across the country on over 500 radio stations. Our guest today is Dan Avakian, a.k.a. “Dan, The Produce Man” and he has 50 years experience working in the produce business. He has a deep passion for all things about fresh produce and brings that energy, along with his deep, rich, velvety voice when he talks about fruits and vegetables to his audience. You see, Dan moonlighted as a Rock Jock in the S.F. Bay Area while he worked days in various positions in the produce business. So he has a lot of experience in producing interesting and informative entertainment in compelling ways. Dan now has his own podcast titled, “Fresh From the Field on which he zeroes in on a particular fruit or veggie to give the audience everything they need to know about it. Since we share the same passion for fresh produce we are delighted to have Dan on the show again. Listen to get his expert tips for getting the best produce at your supermarket or farmers market.

Have you heard of “Sugar Mangos?” How about “Goldenberries” or “Cape Gooseberries?” If not, you will want to stay tuned to hear about these wonderfully unique fruit varieties. Goldenberries are like nature's candy with the perfect amount of sweet and tart. And Sugar Mangos, well they are a lot like other mangos, but smaller and how you can eat them will surprise you. Let's just say a lot of the work to eat the average mango is not needed. Today's guest is Chris Palumbo, one of the founders of Goldenberry Farms, a premier importer and exporter of exotic fruits of all kinds. But Goldenberry Farms mission and vision is much more than just selling fruit. They were founded as a social impact company with the goal of ensuring sustainability and environmental stewardship throughout their growing operations, and the fair and equitable treatment of the farmers and farmworkers who grow their fruit. Chris joins us today to talk about the work they do to bring delicious fruits to spice up your diet. Stay tuned to hear about the fruits they grow but, more importantly, to hear the inspiring message he has for how you as a consumer can make a positive difference in the food supply chain.

July is the month when Americans celebrate their nation's independence. The Founding Fathers started the country to ensure its citizens' life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And July is also a time when the nation celebrates a fruit that helps in that pursuit of happiness. Yes, it's National Watermelon Month and the Produce Buzzers are honoring this delicious and joy-inspiring fruit. They are joined by a woman who probably knows more about watermelons than anyone on the planet.   Rachel Syngo is Chief Marketing Officer of Melon 1, the oldest and largest shipper of watermelons in the U.S. She has real passion for the work she is doing which is why we are delighted to have her on the podcast to help us celebrate. Tune in to hear all about watermelons, how they are grown, their nutritional value, and, maybe most important, how to pick the perfect watermelon.

Doing good is good business. That is the belief of Raul Fernandez and Martin Casanova of THX! Dreams, a fresh produce company that donates part of their profits to help farm workers fulfill vital needs. Raul and Martin join us this week on the podcast to tell us how THX! Dreams is providing many types of necessities to needy families who work on the farms where their fruits and veggies are grown. From computers and tablets for children in school, to home improvements like adding rooms to their homes, to online education and medical needs. The company is growing fast and fortune has favored them in so many ways. Raul says, “When you are striving to do good and especially for others, the universe conspires to help you.” A principle that THX! Dreams believes in and is fulfilling.   Listen in to be inspired by the story of Raul's and Martin's vision to give back after many years as successful business entrepreneurs. And learn how you can help them in their quest by doing nothing more than buying the right brand of fruits and veggies you are already eating.

You may have noticed that beautiful, delicious cherries are starting to show up in the produce sections of your favorite grocery stores. Yes, it's a wonderful time of year when the new crop makes its way to the fresh produce aisle. Our guest this week has spent his career at one of the largest and premier fruit growers in the nation. Mac Riggan is the Director of Marketing for Chelan Fresh and the Joyfully Grown brand, one of the largest growers and shippers of cherries in North America. Mac estimates that they harvest about 120 billion cherries a year!   Chelan Fresh is a shipper of apples, pears, and cherries owned by the farmers who grow the fruit. Their farms are family-owned, many of which are now being led by the fourth, fifth, and even sixth generation of those families. Growing fruit and growing it well is just in their genes.   As cherry season is now starting, we are delighted to have Mac on the show today to tell us about the delicious varieties of this fruit that Chelan Fresh grows. Tune in to learn how cherries are grown and the challenges the growers face in their labor of love to bring you these delicious treats.

Have you ever tried microgreens? If not, you will be fascinated by this week's episode. We have an expert on them who is pioneering growing methods for these tiny little versions of the veggies and greens you know so well in adult form. They are packed with flavor and nutrition. Microgreens are vegetable greens (not to be confused with sprouts or shoots) harvested just after the first little leaves come onto the plant. They are used to add sweetness and spiciness to foods. They are loaded with nutrients and have been shown to have five times as many vitamins and carotenoids as their mature plant counterparts! Our guest this week is Eric McClam who owns City Roots Farm in Columbia, SC. They grow their microgreens in greenhouses in soil (not hydroponic) and they grow these certified organic microgreens year-round. Their operation is 100% carbon neutral!

May is Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This week we have a very special guest on the show who is going to tell us about the substantial contribution that Japanese Americans made to American agriculture, especially on the West Coast, from California through Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Ron Inatomi is a third-generation (Sansei) Japanese American who has been working in the produce industry for over 40 years. In our discussion with him, we will learn how industrious the first and second-generation Japanese Americans were and how they rose to be some of the largest growers of fruits and vegetables in the U.S. That was before the war. But after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, all of them were incarcerated and their lands taken from them. After the war, many of them returned and started over from scratch and once again rose to prominence. And some had some help from unexpected places. Tune in to hear this sad but inspiring story.

Mangos are available all year round but this time of year is one of the best times for the best quality mangos. So in this week's episode, we celebrate this delicious and healthy fruit, one of the most popular fruits in the world, if not the most popular. Often called “The World's Fruit,” mangos are one of the oldest fruits known to humans. Indian Hindustan writings referenced them over 4,000 years ago. India is where they originated and are considered a sacred fruit there as well as in other Asian cultures. They became symbols for many rulers and spiritual leaders throughout Indian and Asian history. According to legend, Buddha meditated under a mango tree. We don't know if mangos are actually sacred, but we do know that the experience of eating them is divine! Today's guest is Daniel Spellman, marketing director for the National Mango Board. He will tell us all about these nutrition-packed natural energy boosters.

Time once again to celebrate a quintessential American holiday; Cinco de Mayo! Yes, that's right. It's more American than Mexican despite celebrating the wonderful culture of our neighbors down south. Most people don't know the history of Cinco de Mayo. And even more don't realize that the battle it celebrates was more important for the United States than for Mexico, even though Americans didn't fight in it. Tune it to learn the surprising history of the day. You will also learn how to pick the perfect avocado and keep them perfect for weeks, the amazing health benefits of cilantro, and all about limes. And we would be remiss if we didn't give you a great guacamole recipe along with the perfect Margarita recipe.

On the Produce Buzzers Podcast, we usually only feature fresh fruits and veggies instead of processed products. But there are some good processed products in the produce aisle. Most juices in the grocery store are not very good for you. They are often made with concentrated fruit juice which is almost like pure sugar syrup. But if you look in the produce section you will find some that are loaded with nutritional benefits. One of the best brands is Suja Juice. All organic and non-GMO, their juices undergo “high-pressure processing” to extend their shelf life without using any heat or preservatives. This keeps the nutrition and the delicious flavors locked in, unlike most juices that undergo heat pasteurization. Because of that, you will only find Suja Juice in the produce aisle. They are like fresh produce in a bottle. This week's guest is Jody Cnossen, EVP of Sales for Suja Juice. Listen in to learn about their delicious and nutritious line of products. They have immunity boosters, energy, digestive, and cleansing shots, and just plain juice made with the most nutritious fruits and veggies. They can definitely juice up your diet!

The Giumarra Companies have been fulfilling those two missions for over 100 years. This week's guest will tell us about that legacy and about some delicious new varieties from this company that sells almost every fruit and veggie. Have you heard of the new “Lemonade” apple? This week's guest on the podcast represents a company that began as a family farm over 100 years ago. Gary Caloroso is Regional Business Development Director for the Giumarra Companies, founded along with his brothers in 1922 by Giuseppe “Joe” Giumarra an immigrant from Sicily. The company started as a wholesaler and distributor for California farmers, primarily citrus. But within a few years the family started growing its own fruits and vegetables. They were a pioneer in growing table grapes and quickly became one of the largest grape companies in the world. Now Giumarra markets almost every type of fruit and vegetable under their wonderfully named “Nature's Partner” brand. Gary is a longtime colleague of the Produce Buzzers and he joins us to tell us all about his long career in “Feeding the World in a Healthy Way,” the company's tagline. The other company motto is “The Love of the Land” and the company has lived up to that priding themselves on being a good steward of the acreage they tend. Gary will tell us about those visions and also about a few of the fantastic fruits and veggies the company specializes in. They have some exciting new varieties that you will want to learn about. Have you heard of the “Lemonade” apple? Tune in. You will want to look for this delicious new treat.

Yes, once again, it's one of the most sacred times of the year. Yes, Easter, Passover, and Ramadan. But for fruit and veggie lovers, it's also a new season of artichokes. It's here and in full swing. So we are going to peel away the leaves on this heavenly veggie, (which technically is a flower!) to get a closer look at it. To do so, we welcome back a great friend of the Produce Buzzers, Mark Munger. Mark is Senior Director of Marketing for Ocean Mist Farms based in Castroville, CA in the Bay Area of the State. The company has been around for almost 100 years and was the first to grow artichokes commercially in the U.S. Today they are the leading grower of artichokes in North America. Mark worked for Theresa's Nolan Network alongside Rick, Cynthia, and Edwin in the early 1990's. He was a valuable part of our team of merchandisers representing our clients of companies and commodities on the West Coast. Since that time, he has been a rising star in the produce business. He will tell us all about artichokes and how to prepare and eat them. We will learn about some new varieties and one of the most beautiful varieties, the purple artichoke!

This week we are delighted to have Robert Schueller, Director of Public Relations at Melissa's World Variety Produce, back on the show. Robert has been dubbed the “Produce Expert” by the media since he has unique access to such a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. He has written several books about the cornucopia Mother Nature has to offer in the world of fresh produce.   In this week's episode, Robert has a long list of new and delicious items from Melissa's Produce, the largest purveyor of fresh produce in the U.S. Listen in to hear about spicy popcorn, ready-to-eat pastas, great spice blends, kumquats, Ojai Pixie tangerines, pink pineapple, quince paste, sweet young coconut, coconut flavored snacks, and a flight of dragonfruit!   

A Group of Young People Are Diminishing a National Tragedy to Help Solve a National Emergency. Listen to the Inspiring Story of The Farmlink Project and Their Heroic Procurement Officer to Learn How Food Waste is Being Redirected to Hungry Families.  This week we have an inspiring story to tell you about a group of young people who came together during the Covid crisis to help address one of the world's biggest problems—hunger. And our guest today became one of their advisors and eventually a full-time soldier in their war against food insecurity. Luis Yepiz, the Chief Procurement Officer for The Farmlink Project, an organization based in Los Angeles, CA that connects farms that have surplus fruits and veggies to food banks and people in need. The organization is only about four years old, but in that short time they have delivered over 165 million pounds of food and over 137 million meals to people and families facing hunger.  Luis has worked for over 20 years helping find food that was destined for the dump and redirecting it to people who most needed it. His personal story is also an inspiring one. A man with many talents, he works hours and hours tirelessly every day to fulfill what he believes is his calling. Luis knows how to connect people and build synergy among companies, farms, and charity organizations to get the job done most effectively. He is also talented in another way. He is a trained opera singer! And he will sing a few lines of one of his favorite melodies to show off his beautiful voice.

As our regular listeners know, we love to feature family farms on our program to help dispel the myth that agriculture in the U.S. is all huge corporations. Our guest this week is a third-generation farmer of a family farm that has been growing citrus in Florida for almost 100 years! It is a testament to their hard work and dedication to keep their land in production. To do so over those many years, they have faced overwhelming odds created by adverse weather, devastating pests and disease, and perhaps the greatest pressure of all, escalating real estate and land costs. Many farms in Florida have given in to that latter factor especially when the first two factors became too much. This week's guest is Quentin Roe, president of William G. Roe & Sons and the Noble Citrus label based in Winter Haven, Florida. Quentin will tell the inspiring story of his family's farm and how they battled so many obstacles, like freezes, hurricanes, and seemingly unstoppable pests to keep the farm producing all varieties of citrus and blueberries. You will learn about how citrus is grown and the challenges these heroic farmers face.

This week on the Produce Buzzers Podcast we are going to learn about a unique citrus fruit that is taking the fruit world by storm. It is fast becoming a “heavy weight” in the produce aisle. It is a fruit that no doubt you are seeing front and center in the produce departments right now and will see for the next few months. But they are not a pretty sight! They are odd shaped and covered in bumps. And to top it off, they have one huge bump on the top of the fruit that makes it look like it is deformed. It's kind of like the “Elephant Man” of the fruit world! But we here at Produce Buzz think they are beautiful. Rather than an “elephant man” we think they are more like that pug-nose or bulldog that so many dog lovers adore and love. It's their strange shape and gnarly look that draws us to them. Because just like that bulldog, there is something very special going on underneath their lovable skin. We are talking about Sumo Citrus. One of the sweetest citrus fruits you can get. And they are super easy to peel and seedless. Today we have Sunnia Gull, VP of Marketing for Sumo Citrus, as our guest and she will tell us everything we wanted to know but were afraid to ask about these weird and wonderful treats.

This week we are going to have some more game show fun on the podcast and test our Produce Buzzers knowledge of different fruits and veggies. They will play a version of the classic TV Game Show “Jeopardy” with all the categories being about fruits and veggies. They will choose clues from these topics:  ·      Fruit Fiesta ·      Veggie Ventury ·      Berry Bliss ·      Citrus Spectacle ·      Tropical Treasures ·      Veggie Impersonators That last category features produce items that are thought of and used like vegetables but technically they are not. Each category has clues worth $100, $200, $300, $400, and $500. The contestants have to choose a category and amount. The clue is revealed and is in the form of an “answer.” They have to determine the correct “question” to be right and get the dollar amount added to their score. If they get it wrong, the amount of the clue is detracted from their score. How will they do? Who will win? Can you match their knowledge and get the right “questions” to the “answers?” Listen and play along. You are certain to find it entertaining. And you will learn some very interesting facts about fresh fruits and veggies.

Peanuts are a superfood. Most everyone knows they are loaded with protein. But they are also loaded with many other nutrients. And they are super in several other ways. They rejuvenate the soil and, like soybeans, they can produce more protein per acre than all other plants. They are also environmentally and ecologically good for the planet. This week's guest has been practicing and teaching medicine for almost 40 years. He is going to tell us about this superfood that you should be eating every day to build and sustain your health. Perhaps you eat peanuts often. But most likely you are not eating it in the way that is the most nutritious way to consume them. And those that know this secret say this way to eat them is the most delicious way to prepare them. Dr. Phillip Flexon joins us along with his daughter Lauren Marcinkoski, CEO of the Luray Peanut Company in Hardeeville, SC, just across the border from Savannah, GA. They are growing and packaging boiled peanuts and working hard to spread the gospel of this miraculous food. Tune in to be amazed at the power of peanuts, especially boiled peanuts.

What a fantastic year it has been on the PB Podcast! Our audience grew steadily and continues to grow. And that is in large part to the wonderful guests we had on the show during the past year. So today we are going to dedicate the last episode of the year to these giants in the produce industry and the world of fruits and veggies and the nutrition they provide. We are going to reminisce about some of the highlights from these interesting experts. There are way too many highlights from the show that we would like to review today. But we only have time to pick a few that stood out to each of us. Tune in to see which podcast episodes we think you should check out first. Thanks to all our guests and thanks to you the listeners for tuning in. Happy New Year!

Many, if not most of you have grown up knowing and consuming delicious grape flavored products made by Welch's. Grape juice, jams, and jellies. Along with a whole line of other fruit based products. The company has been around for over 150 years! But did you know that you can also get delicious fresh fruit from Welch's? That's right. You can. And today we will be hearing from a man who knows all about them. And makes sure those treats are in your produce aisle year-round.   Andy Kampa is our guest this week. He is general manager of sourcing for C.H. Robinson, a global fresh produce distribution company based near Minneapolis. Also known as Robinson Fresh, they have the license to package and distribute fresh fruit under the Welch's brand. Andy is charged with making sure those products live up to the standards of Welch's many decades of superior quality. We will learn about the challenges he faces in getting the grapes and berries to market. Be inspired by the values he and his team adhere to as they work hard to supply the world's best fruit. You will also learn about the history of the Welch's brand, how it got started and what fueled its international growth. It was so popular that it featured regularly in the Flintstones cartoon series!

This week we are delighted to have Robert Schueller of Melissa's World Variety Produce back on the show. He has been dubbed “The Produce Expert by countless consumer and national trade publications along with TV and radio personalities.   There is probably no one on the planet who is more of an expert on produce than Robert because his company sells over fifteen hundred different varieties of fresh fruits and veggies from all over the world. He has written several books on fresh produce including Melissa's Great Book of Produce which tells all about some of the most exotic fruits and veggies from around the world.   This week we are going to focus on veggie side dishes for all the upcoming holiday meals But as you might expect, a Thanksgiving, Hannuka, or Christmas meal featuring fruits and veggies from Melissa's might be a little different than the traditional ones we serve up in America. And while Melissa's does sell all those traditional fruits and veggies, they have some very interesting alternatives to give your Thanksgiving meal an exciting twist. Robert is going to tell us how to have a “Fresh and Modern Thanksgiving.”

This week we are launching a new segment for the podcast that we hope will become a regular feature throughout each season. As our regular listeners know, all of us Produce Buzzers like to cook. None of us are professional chefs, but we are all “foodies” and have a good sense of what makes a good dish and how to pair those dishes to make a good meal. So, I am confident that each of us could stand his or her own on a show like the “Iron Chef.”   So today on the podcast, we are going to play our version of the Iron Chef that we call “The Veggie Iron Chef!” Each of our contestants will receive three random ingredients and they will have to come up with a recipe using those ingredients before the end of the show. Their ingredients will be chosen by our “Veggie Wheel of Fortune!” This is a roulette wheel with ten veggies on it. We will spin it and whatever veggie it lands on that will be the veggie our contestant will have to work with. We also have a “Spice Wheel of Foturne” and a “Fruit and Nut Wheel of Fortune” to select the other ingredients. Those also have ten ingredients each on the wheel. They can also use any other ingredients that they want to add to the dish to make it more interesting or flavorful.   Edwin will be the primary judge of the recipes they create and award points according to his superb taste and sophistication. But he will be making the rules up as he goes along, so don't pull too hard for your favorite Produce Buzzer or you might be disappointed!   And one surprise element in our game will be that, after they create their recipes, the Produce Buzzers will see what Artificial Intelligence (AI) would do with their ingredients. Can they beat ChatGPT?   Now all the veggies on our Veggie Wheel of Fortune are in season now in the Fall, so hopefully listeners you can be inspired by our work today to create your own fall veggie dishes.

We haven't yet had an episode on the podcast that featured packaged products of fruits and vegetables. But that doesn't mean we don't think there are not any good ones in the produce aisle. Pre-cut, prepared, and pre-packaged fresh fruits and veggies have gained a lot of popularity with consumers over the past decade and for good reason. With our lives becoming busier and busier, these products can save a lot of time on getting the evening meal on the family table. This week we have a guest who is going to tell us about some fantastic and delicious treats that can really spice up your meals with hardly taking any of your valuable time.   Today we welcome Tara Murray, VP of Marketing for Fresh Innovations and the ¡Yo Quiero brands based in Texas. The name of the company and the brand are spot on because they are truly creating some very innovative products that will make you say “¡Yo quiero ¡Yo Quiero” when you see them. They specialize in all kinds of avocado dips including a package of fresh avocado that's nothing but avocado. But they have also created some other delicious dips. Bean dips, cheese or queso dips, salsas, and many more combinations that will truly spice up your plate. And they are all fresh, natural, and clean with no preservatives or chemicals. They truly belong in the produce aisle.   Tune in to hear about their revolutionary and safe way of packaging these products without needing heat or chemicals to preserve them and ruining their delicious flavor. And Tara will reveal an exciting new product that will be in your local produce aisle very soon.

Watermelons are never out of season. And today we have a special guest to tell us how that can be and why you should be including watermelon on your shopping list all year long. She will reveal some surprising info about them that will convince you of this. Rachel Syngo is Chief Marketing Officer of Melon 1, the oldest and largest shipper of watermelons in the U.S. She has real passion for the work she is doing, which is why we are delighted to have her on the podcast to share that since we are all about passion for everything fruit and veggie. Rachel joined the Melon 1 team in 2016 and is central in the sales and marketing for the company. She is the 8th generation in her family to work in American agriculture, and in watermelon farming. Tune in to hear where and how watermelons are grown. You will learn how to choose a good watermelon and how to cut and store them. You will get real insight into the lives of watermelon farmers and the challenges they face.

This week the Produce Buzzers are going to take a walk down memory lane and reminisce about the wonderful food we grew up with in Western North Carolina which always featured lots of fruits and veggies fresh off the farm.   To help us do that we have a very special guest returning to the program. Our guest today is our cousin Colette Worley. Her mother was our father's sister. Her family owned a very popular restaurant in our hometown of Hendersonville, NC, called “The Tasty Treat.” You could get just about anything you wanted to eat at their café, but standard fare was a daily specials board with a choice of several meats and two or three veggies to go along with it. You don't see restaurants like that much anymore. But in the 1960's and 70's when their restaurant served the area, these were very common.  Today we are going to have Colette tell us about the restaurant and some of her memories from those days and then she is going to share with us one of her favorite veggie sides that you could have ordered at The Tasty Treat and how to prepare them. And she will also tell us the method her husband Wayne uses to can an heirloom green bean called Morgan Beans. Season Seven Episode Two

A mother and daughter-in-law share how their love of fresh fruits and veggies changed their lives. A conversation with a professional dietitian and her favorite patient. This week we have a very interesting mother-in-law, daughter-in-law duo as our guests. Both of them have a passion for all things fruit and veggie and are going to share that passion with us today and explain why fresh produce not only brings great joy, but is key in maintaining and bolstering your health. Stephanie McBurnett is a registered dietitian who is doing some very important work to get fruits and veggies recognized as a crucial factor in treating chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and inflammation. She works  for the non-profit organization Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine which is dedicated to the promotion of plant-based diets for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases

Our guest this week has spent his career at one of the largest and premiere fruit growers in the nation. Mac Riggan, the director of marketing for Chelan Fresh and the “Joyfully Grown” brand, joins us to tell us the story of the Chelan Fresh farmers. Chelan Fresh is a shipper of apples, pears, and cherries owned by the farmers who grow the fruit. Their farms are family-owned, many of which are now being led by the fourth, fifth, and even sixth generations of those families. Sons and daughters have followed in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents, in some cases great and great-great grandparents. Growing fruit and growing it well is just in their genes. Tune in to learn about why the foothills of the Cascade Mountain range in central Washington state has ideal fruit growing conditions. Learn about how the apples are grown and delicious new varieties are developed. And hear their family story that inspired the name of the “Joyfully Grown” brand.

We have a very special guest returning to the show this week. Lori Taylor is the Founder & CEO of The Produce Moms®, a global community on a mission to put more fruits and vegetables on every table. She has been making a great impact in getting more people to eat fresh fruits and vegetables through the wonderfully creative content on her website theproducemoms.com. Lori is also a fellow podcaster as the host of The Produce Moms Podcast. Over the past month she featured a very interesting series there on the subject of “Food As Medicine.” We are going to ask her about that and how the idea is getting a lot of attention across many professional and scientific disciplines. More and more, doctors are prescribing fresh fruits and veggies to solve and prevent health issues and insurers are beginning to pay for them. It's an exciting trend that is building great momentum.

This week we are delighted to have Robert Schueller, Director of Public Relations at Melissa's World Variety Produce, back on the show. Robert has been dubbed the “Produce Expert” by the media since he has unique access to such a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. He has written several books about the cornucopia Mother Nature has to offer in the world of fresh produce. In this week's episode, Robert is going to tell us about some strange but wonderful exotic fruits. These fruits are freaky and look so strange. Eating them is an adventure too. We will learn about lychees, rambutans, passion fruit, and “the queen of fruits,” mangosteens. Listen to learn about their unique look, unsurpassed flavors, and how to get inside them to eat them.

Artichoke season is here and in full swing. The origin of these deliciously creamy and rich flavored vegetables is an interesting journey around the Mediterranean to the modern world. And has for thousands of years been associated with romance. In this week's episode, we are going to get an in-depth look at this veggie, which technically is a flower! This week's guest is Mark Munger, Senior Director of Marketing for Ocean Mist Farms based in Castroville, CA in the Monterey, CA area. The company has been around for almost 100 years and was the first to grow artichokes commercially in the U.S. Today they are the leading grower of artichokes in North America. Mark worked for Theresa's Nolan Network alongside Rick, Cynthia, and Edwin in the early 1990's. He was a valuable part of our team of merchandisers representing our clients of companies and commodities on the West Coast. Since that time, he has been a rising star in the produce business. He will tell us all about artichokes. Learn about how the unique climate of the Bay Area of California allows the top quality veggies to grow there. The name Ocean Mist is a clue to why that area is called the world's “salad bowl.”

June is National Mango Month. So, in this week's episode we celebrate this delicious and healthy fruit, one of the most popular fruits in the world, if not the most popular.  Mangos originated in India and are considered a sacred fruit there as well as other Asian cultures. They became symbols for many rulers and spiritual leaders throughout Indian and Asian history. According to legend, Buddha meditated under a mango tree. This week's guest is Dr, Noris Ledesma, a horticulturist specializing in tropical fruits. She is one of the world's foremost experts on mangos. She is an emeritus curator at the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden in Coral Gables, FL. and a courtesy professor at the University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center, Homestead, FL.   Her work has taken her all over the world—the U.S., Mexico, Latin America, Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Africa, India, Oman and Saudi Arabia. Dr. Ledesma is working on breeding the “perfect mango.” In this episode she will tell us how mangos made it to the New World and how new varieties are being developed. Her passion for mangos is contagious and you will be craving them after hearing her talk about them. She will tell you why mangos are the "Fruit for your Soul!"

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month so we have a guest today who is going to enlighten us on the great contributions Japanese Americans made to agriculture in the United States beginning in the late nineteenth century and continuing today. Our guest this week is Glenn Tanaka, a.k.a. “Farmer Tanaka,” a third-generation Japanese American farmer who is continuing the legacy of his family's farms in Southern California. He joins us along with Ron Inatomi, a produce manager at Gelson's Markets in Southern California. They will talk about the major contributions that Japanese American farmers have made to American agriculture since the early twentieth century. When Pearl Harbor was bombed, thousands of them were forced off their farms and into internment camps for the duration of the war. Most of them lost everything and had to completely rebuild. Listen to be inspired by their resilience. Learn about their dedication and loyalty to the United States, even though they had everything taken from them by the country they loved and of which they were legal residents.