The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly

What becomes of a man who spent his life moving plants, people, and power across the globe - when his own body finally begins to fail? How did Joseph Banks face his final years: in pain, in controversy, and yet still at the very center of British science? And why, after four decades at the helm of the Royal Society, did his reputation wither almost as quickly as his health?
In this seventh and final episode, John and Patrick follow Banks into his twilight: chairing meetings from a wheelchair, backing Arctic expeditions, sampling three-year-old tinned meat in the name of progress, and making one last pilgrimage to Kew to see a cone bloom after forty years of waiting. As grief, illness, and imperial consequence close in, the question sharpens: was Banks a visionary architect of modern science - or an overbearing relic of an older age?
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In Sponsorship with J&K Fresh.
The customs broker who is your fruit and veggies’ personal bodyguard. Learn more here!
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Join host Patrick Kelly as he welcomes Bruce Letchworth of Continental Fresh to share inspiring stories of purpose, passion, and mission-driven work in the produce industry. Discover how honesty and relationships are transforming communities globally through the 'Water for All' initiative, and enjoy a lively conversation that blends produce insights with Bruce’s unique alligator hunting and fish fry adventures. A heartfelt episode that proves one person’s passion can ripple out and change the world.
#VIVAFRESHSURPRISE #ASKUS

This week on Fresh From the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man and Ross the Produce Boss welcome Caroline Lewis, founder of The Farmer’s Feed—all about reconnecting people with the farmers who actually grow their food.
We dig into the cabbage trend that’s heating up in foodservice and retail, talk about why farmers need to tell their own stories, and how getting closer to the consumer really matters right now. We also hit on Valentine’s Day strawberries, a little floral, and what it all means at store level.
It’s real people, real farmers, real food—right here on Fresh From the Field Fridays, from the Produce Industry Network, powered by AgLife Media.
Check it out at aglifemedia.com.

What happens when exploration gives way to administration - and adventure turns into power? How did a royal garden become the beating heart of a global botanical empire? And how did Joseph Banks, without leaving London, reshape landscapes, economies, and diets across the world?
In this episode, John and Patrick move from the drama of ocean voyages to the quieter - but far more consequential - world of Kew Gardens, where Banks transforms botany into infrastructure, plants into policy, and seeds into instruments of empire. From globe-spanning networks of plant hunters to glasshouses, diplomacy, and even Britain’s first brush with cannabis, this is where Banks stops collecting plants - and starts running the system.
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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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In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast with Patrick Kelly, we break down the biggest takeaways from Fruit Logistica 2026 in Berlin — from data‑driven transformation and sustainability to global trade standards and the rise of storytelling in fresh produce. Patrick also shares his personal journey across Spain, Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, Chile, and beyond on a mission to uncover the top citrus making its way around the world.
Plus, we feature exclusive on‑site interviews with Jaime Bustamante of the DRC on trade standards and financial protection, and Hannes Tauber of VOG – Home of Apples on strategy, branding, and global communication.
If you want to understand where the fresh produce industry is heading — and what’s driving the next decade of growth — this episode delivers the insights you need.