The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly

What kind of fruit was designed to be swallowed whole by giant sloths? How did a sacred Mesoamerican tree become the green badge of millennial brunch culture? And how did a humble postman’s backyard seedling end up conquering global agriculture?
Join John and Patrick as they trace the astonishing history of the avocado - from the forests of ancient Mexico and the courts of the Maya and Aztec, to the chandeliers of the Alexandria Hotel, the rise of Calavo, and the accidental genius of Rudolph Hass. Along the way: plant explorers, freezes that nearly wiped out an industry, marketing masterstrokes, cartel violence in Michoacán, and the birth of the Super Bowl guacamole ritual.
This is not just the story of a fruit. It’s a tale of extinction and survival, empire and branding, crime and cultivation - a relic of the Pleistocene that somehow became the taste of modernity.
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In Sponsorship with Cornell University: Dyson Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
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Join Patrick Kelly, the voice of the Produce Industry, as he shares firsthand insights from his recent travels through California's Central Valley and previews the highly anticipated Southern Exposure trade show in Orlando.
This episode dives into the latest innovations in pre and post-harvest solutions with Agra Fresh, tackles the challenges of unpredictable weather on crop quality, and highlights exciting industry events and sponsors. Don’t miss this behind-the-scenes look at the evolving produce supply chain and key trends shaping the season.

Join Ross the Produce Boss as he fills in for Dan with special guest Patrick Kelly to dive into the role of fresh produce in fueling athletes at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
Explore how Italian cuisine and seasonal fruits and veggies are powering peak performance, plus insider tips on what’s fresh and local this season. Tune in for fresh industry insights, Olympic highlights, and a celebration of produce in sport!

In this vibrant February episode of The Global Fresh Series, we celebrate the spirit of the Chinese (Lunar) New Year — a season of prosperity, renewal, and symbolic foods — while honoring National Heart Month, spotlighting the powerful role fresh produce plays in cardiovascular wellness.
From citrus fruits symbolizing good fortune to berries, leafy greens, tomatoes, avocados, root vegetables, and other nutrient-rich staples that support heart health, we explore how global food traditions and modern nutrition science beautifully intersect.
Join us as we journey across cultures and commodities, uncovering how fresh produce fuels celebration, strengthens communities, and supports healthier lives worldwide. Whether it’s a lucky orange shared at the New Year table or a heart-smart salad packed with vibrant greens, this episode reminds us that the path to prosperity begins with what’s on our plate.
#chinesenewyear #nationalheartmonth #freshfruit #freshvegetables

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 the History of Fresh Produce Club for ad-free listening, bonus episodes, book discounts and access to an exclusive chatroom community.
Support us!
Share this episode with your friends
Give a 5-star rating
Write a review

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Subscribe to our biweekly newsletter here for extra stories related to recent episodes, book recommendations, a sneak peek of upcoming episodes and more.
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@historyoffreshproduce
Email: [email protected]