What do gold, frankincense, and myrrh really tell us about the world into which Jesus was born? Who were the Magi - kings, mystics, scientists, or traders - and why did they travel vast distances carrying some of the most valuable agricultural products on Earth? How do desert trees in Arabia and the Horn of Africa connect a humble birth in Bethlehem to ancient global supply chains, imperial economics, and the earliest luxury produce markets? And what happened when symbolic gifts became engines of demand, reshaping landscapes, trade routes, and even Christian worship for centuries to come?

Join John and Patrick as they follow the scent trail of frankincense and myrrh - from wounded bark and caravan routes to temples, churches, and modern medicine - in a fresh-produce retelling of the Nativity that reveals the Three Wise Men not as fairy-tale kings, but as emissaries of the ancient global economy.

This is the Christmas story as you’ve never heard it before: rooted in trees, trade, and the fragile agricultural systems that quietly changed the world.

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

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In this episode of the Produce Industry Podcast, Patrick Kelly sits down with Shay Myers, President of Owyhee Produce, for a conversation that happens mid-flight as the two travel together on a plane. With nowhere to be but in the moment, they talk about produce, where to find truly good-quality fruits and vegetables, and what separates the best products from the rest. Along the way, Shay shares insights from a lifetime in farming, touching on leadership, family legacy, and how the produce industry continues to evolve. It’s an easygoing, honest conversation rooted in a shared love of great produce.

In this week’s episode, host Juanita Gaglio takes listeners on a whirlwind tour of the global fresh-produce scene — from bananas mysteriously washing ashore on U.K. beaches to the first shipments of Chilean cherries sparking excitement for the holiday season. We’ll also look at why broccolini is having a major moment on menus and market shelves alike.

The feature story dives into the USMCA Agreement review, exploring what’s at stake for growers, exporters, and retailers across North America. With trade policy, produce trends, and fresh arrivals all on the table, this episode serves up a delicious mix of insight, intrigue, and inspiration — straight from the global produce supply chain.First Class Sponsor: Peak of the Market: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://peakofthemarket.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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From incestuous wasps and prehistoric forests to sacred enlightenment, revolutionary resistance, and a certain square-shaped snack aisle icon - what if the fig is the most powerful fruit in human history?

Join John and Patrick as they trace the astonishing 80-million-year saga of the fig: its ancient pact with tiny wasps, its role in shaping ecosystems, feeding early humans, inspiring gods and emperors, fueling revolutions in Kenya, and conquering America as the mighty Fig Newton.

Was the fig humanity’s first domesticated plant? Did it help build civilizations, religions, and even our own hands? And how did one strange fruit manage to bridge myth, medicine, empire, and mass production?

This is the epic, unexpected history of the fig - one of the most extraordinary stories nature ever wrote.

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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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In this candid and energizing episode, host Patrick Kelly steps away from the fields and into the doctor’s office—literally. Fresh from a recent medical checkup, Patrick shares what he learned, what surprised him, and why the conversation around health and wellness is more important than ever.

Patrick opens up about how personal health ties directly into the produce industry, our food system, and the choices consumers make every day. From nutrition trends and preventative care to the pressures of modern life and the importance of listening to your body, this episode serves as both a reminder and a wake-up call: your health is your biggest asset.

The future of produce, packaging, and innovation is happening at the SWIPE Expo, and you won’t want to miss it. This is your chance to connect with industry leaders, explore groundbreaking technology, and discover what’s next for the world of fresh produce.

SWIPE Expo Registration: https://web.cvent.com/event/0ac4c457-55e5-4cb8-951e-71c1fb8944af/regProcessStep1

Link to episode with Michelle Pearlman mentioned in this episode: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/2db66830-74db-45d8-9f4c-393b131e1f87/episodes/ffc1cd72-5b7f-4efb-afb4-b3c84a966b91/the-produce-industry-podcast-w-patrick-kelly-power-of-food-as-medicine-w-dr-michelle-pearlman---ep381?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fmusic.amazon.com%2F

In this episode of The Global Fresh Series, we take a deep dive into the numbers shaping what’s on our plates — comparing the staggering $3.23 trillion global ultra-processed foods market with the $1.27 trillion fresh-produce sector projected by 2034. Host Juanita Gaglio unpacks where the real opportunities lie for fruits and vegetables to innovate, inspire, and add value — from blending fresh ingredients into convenient foods to leveraging consumer love for healthy, ready-to-eat options. We also listen in on what consumers are saying about fresh produce — how presentation, freshness, and even festive holiday packaging are giving sales a noticeable lift.

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"They say once you grow crops somewhere, you have officially colonized it. So technically, I colonized Mars. In your face , Neil Armstrong!"

As Mark Watney's line from the book and film The Martian suggests, fruits and vegetables have long played a starring role in our visions of space. Sometimes they’re subtle symbols of home; other times, they’re humanity’s only hope for survival.

But how realistic are these space gardens?

Could these crops truly grow beyond Earth - and if they could, would they be enough to sustain life?

And what lessons can we draw from history, when explorers relied on produce to survive their own journeys into the unknown?

Join John and Patrick on this month's livestream as they pull out the popcorn to talk space films, produce and history!

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In this reflective episode with, Patrick Kelly he shares how the Water for All Hike with BLUE Missions and Continental Fresh reshaped his perspective on something most of us never think twice about: water. After walking the same paths families in the Dominican Republic travel daily to access clean water, Patrick describes the weight of their stories, the resilience of the communities he met, and the realization that water isn’t a convenience — it’s life, opportunity, and the foundation for a thriving future.

Patrick then connects this experience back to the produce industry, reminding his listeners that water is the starting point of everything we grow, ship, and serve. Clean water doesn’t just hydrate people — it activates communities, powering local agriculture, entrepreneurship, and economic stability. This episode is both a thank-you and a call to action for industry leaders to step up, get involved, and recognize the shared responsibility we have to support the communities that make our work possible.

www.bluemissions.org and www.continentalfresh.com

In this episode of The Global Fresh Series, we explore three dynamic stories shaping the produce world and beyond. First, we dive into the innovative trend of packing premium avocados in festive Christmas gift boxes—what it means for growers, exporters, retailers and the seasonal consumer mindset. Next, we examine the latest global public-health push around ultra-processed foods: how policy, research and consumer behavior are changing, and why this matters for fresh produce marketers. Finally, we take a delightful detour into the world of agritourism with a UK farmer who invites visitors to cuddle cows—exploring diversification, consumer experience, and how farm storytelling can reshape perceptions of agriculture. Tune in for a wide-angle view of freshness, health, and the unexpected sweet spots in the produce ecosystem.

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

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In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast, Ross “The Produce Boss” Nelson steps in as guest host while Patrick participates in the Blue Missions Water For All Hike in the Dominican Republic.

Ross provides listeners with an overview of the purpose and scope of the Water For All initiative—an effort focused on expanding access to clean and reliable water for communities in need. He also shares updates from Patrick’s journey, highlighting key aspects of the hike, the impact of the initiative, and why this mission holds significant importance within and beyond the produce industry.

What does a thorny Mediterranean thistle have to do with the American Mafia? How did a humble vegetable — adored by Romans, cultivated by Renaissance queens, and grown lovingly by Italian immigrants — become the centerpiece of one of the strangest criminal rackets in U.S. history? And why did a fiery New York mayor decide that the only way to defeat organized crime… was to ban artichokes altogether?

Join John and Patrick as they trace the extraordinary saga of the Artichoke King — Ciro Terranova — the East Harlem mobster who turned produce into power. From the early Italian farmers of California’s coast, to the violent “Artichoke Wars” of the 1930s, to Fiorello La Guardia’s theatrical crusade against racketeering, this is the bizarre and gripping story of how food, identity, and crime became entangled in the markets of New York.

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Ever see a shirt that you could just eat it? Well, this New Jersey family-run business may just be it!

Visit EatShirts here to order your favorite fruit or veggies shirt!

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