The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man dives into St. Patrick’s Day cabbage—a classic that’s been showing up on produce stands and dinner tables for generations.
Then we take a trip over to the San Francisco Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, where we talk with growers about Gem and Zutano avocados and what makes those varieties special.
We also get into spring onions and the famous calcot onions—those sweet Spanish grilling onions grown using a special mounding technique that chefs love to roast over an open flame.
It’s all right here on Fresh from the Field Fridays from the Produce Industry Network, powered by AgLife Media.
Check out AgLifeMedia.com today.

What does a Roman emperor’s craving for cucumbers have to do with feeding eight billion people? How did a 15th-century Korean cookbook quietly invent heated agriculture centuries before Europe’s glass palaces? And how did Victorian spectacle, world wars, hydroponic ambition, and Dutch engineering transform the greenhouse from aristocratic indulgence into global infrastructure?
Join John and Patrick as they trace the extraordinary history of climate control in the service of fresh produce - from Tiberius’s selenite-covered cucumber beds, to the heated ondol systems of the Joseon Dynasty, the imperial glasshouses of Palace of Versailles and Royal Botanic Gardens, and the hydroponic battlefields of the Second World War.
Because this is not just a story about architecture. It is a story about anxiety, empire, science, and survival. About humanity’s refusal to let winter - or war, or geography - dictate what ends up on our plates.
From Roman villas to vertical farms... this is the history of the greenhouse, and the quiet revolution that changed how the world grows its food.
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In Sponsorship with Cornell University: Dyson Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
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What does conflict in the Middle East have to do with the price of food on your table? More than you might think.
In this episode of The Global Fresh Series, we explore how geopolitical tensions in the Persian Gulf—particularly disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz—are sending ripple effects through the global agriculture supply chain. While headlines often focus on rising oil prices, another critical commodity is at stake: fertilizer, the essential nutrient that supports nearly half of the world’s food production.
With countries in the region supplying a significant portion of the world’s nitrogen fertilizers, any disruption in shipping lanes can tighten supply, drive up costs, and ultimately impact farmers, crop yields, and food prices around the globe. From the fields of the Northern Hemisphere preparing for spring planting to vulnerable regions facing rising food insecurity, the effects are far-reaching.
Join us as we unpack the hidden connections between energy, fertilizer, global trade, and fresh produce, and examine how today’s geopolitical challenges could influence tomorrow’s harvests.
#agriculture. #geopolitics #fertilizer. #freshproduce

Join host Patrick Kelly on-location at KDC in Vineland, New Jersey, for an exclusive deep dive into winter produce imports and family-run business excellence.
Hear from industry leader William Kopke as he shares insights on building trust, operational innovation, and the future of fresh produce in a rapidly changing market.
Discover what it takes to lead a global produce hub and why collaboration is key to thriving together in the supply chain.
#freshproduce #agriculture #supplychain
https://kopkefruit.com - Check out the latest and greatest from Kopke!

In this episode of the Global Fresh Series, we take you inside the energy and excitement of the SEPC Southern Exposure 2026 in Orlando, Florida—one of the fresh produce industry’s most anticipated gatherings of the year.
From the vibrant trade show floor to meaningful conversations with growers, shippers, retailers, and innovators across the supply chain, this episode captures the spirit of collaboration that defines Southern Exposure. We discuss the standout moments from the expo, including innovative booth presentations, new product introductions, and the growing role of storytelling and digital media in connecting fresh produce with buyers and consumers.
We also highlight the educational sessions that addressed key industry topics—from supply chain challenges and market trends to the importance of building stronger relationships across the industry. As always, the show was not just about business—it was about community, networking, and celebrating the passion that drives the fresh produce sector forward.
#freshproduce. #SEPC2026. #agriculture