In this episode of The Global Fresh Series, we journey to the breathtaking region of South Tyrol, Italy — home to some of the world’s most celebrated apples. Our guest, Hannes Tauber, Marketing Manager and CMO of VOG – Home of Apples, shares his deep-rooted passion for apples, from bringing a sommelier event to apples to the growers who cultivate them, and the generations of tradition behind this remarkable brand.

Sponsors:

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

Premium Sponsor: Zag Technological Services, Inc.: https://www.zagtech.com/

Premium Sponsor: Avocados from Colombia: https://avocadoscolombia.com/

Premium Sponsor: The Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation: https://fvdrc.com/

Premium Sponsor: USA Pears : https://www.usapears.org

Global Women Fresh: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://globalwomenfresh.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

From the barefoot wanderings of Johnny Appleseed to the fiery kick of applejack on Civil War battlefields, the apple’s story in America takes a dramatic turn in this fourth episode of our series.

John and Patrick trace how John Chapman’s seed-planting helped shape frontier life, fueled the nation’s cider culture, and - ironically - set the stage for America’s drinking frontier. But the apple’s journey doesn’t stop there.

Across the Atlantic, the fruit was taking root in Victorian Britain, where royal tastebuds, scientific curiosity, and household culture transformed it into a symbol of both domesticity and national pride. Yet under the gloss of toffee apples and orchard competitions lurked darker tales of poisonings, poverty, and fierce competition with American imports.

Join John and Patrick as they uncover how the apple became at once a folk hero’s legacy, a soldier’s solace, and the centerpiece of Victorian life - setting the stage for its leap into the modern global age.

----------

In Sponsorship with J&K Fresh.

The customs broker who is your fruit and veggies’ personal bodyguard. Learn more here!

-----------

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

-----------

Subscribe to our biweekly newsletter here for extra stories related to recent episodes, book recommendations, a sneak peek of upcoming episodes and more.

-----------

Instagram, TikTok, Threads:

@historyoffreshproduce

Email: historyoffreshproduce@gmail.com

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast, host Patrick Kelly sits down with a longtime industry voice to talk all things fresh produce and preview the highly anticipated IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show.

They explore what attendees should be excited about — from emerging trends and innovations to the invaluable networking opportunities on the show floor. Plus, they dive into a few off-the-cuff topics that only true produce pros can appreciate.

Broadcasting from vibrant Madrid, Spain; this episode of The Global Fresh Series takes you inside the magic of Fruit Attraction 2025, where innovation and heritage collide in the world of fresh produce.

Join host Juanita Gaglio as she paints the scene of a show pulsing with connection, culture, and creativity — from the buzzing halls of IFEMA to an unforgettable VOG reception celebrating Marlene®’s 30th birthday and VOG’s 80th anniversary.

SPONSORS:

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

Premium Sponsor: Zag Technological Services, Inc.: https://www.zagtech.com/

Premium Sponsor: Avocados from Colombia: https://avocadoscolombia.com/

Premium Sponsor: The Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation: https://fvdrc.com/

Premium Sponsor: USA Pears : https://www.usapears.org

Global Women Fresh: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://globalwomenfresh.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

John and Patrick journey into the seventeenth century, when cider wasn’t just a drink - it was a matter of national survival. From John Evelyn’s bold call for apple orchards to secure England’s navy and replace French wine, to the early experiments that nearly made England the home of “apple champagne,” the apple takes centre stage in politics, science, and patriotism.

But apples weren’t only about orchards and fizz. This was also the age when John Milton transformed them into the forbidden fruit of Eden, when physicians and quacks alike prescribed them as medicine and beauty aids, and when settlers carried them across the Atlantic to the New World. There, apples and cider became woven into the fabric of colonial life - fueling households, politics, and survival itself.

From Restoration England to early America, discover how the apple evolved into both symbol and staple, preparing the stage for one of history’s most legendary figures: Johnny Appleseed.

----------

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

-----------

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

-----------

Subscribe to our biweekly newsletter here for extra stories related to recent episodes, book recommendations, a sneak peek of upcoming episodes and more.

-----------

Step into history - literally! Now is your chance to own a pair of The History of Fresh Produce sneakers. Fill out the form here and get ready to walk through the past in style.

-----------

Instagram, TikTok, Threads:

@historyoffreshproduce

Email: historyoffreshproduce@gmail.com

This week, Patrick Kelly sits down with Silvia Restrepo, a prominent leader in agricultural education and research from Cornell University. Together, they discuss how education is shaping the future of agriculture, from empowering the next generation of industry professionals to fostering innovation and sustainability. Silvia shares insights into the evolving role of universities in supporting the produce industry and why investing in knowledge is key to long-term success.

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays!

Ross the Produce Boss is fresh back from Idaho with an inside look at the onion

harvest—how they’re sorted, sized, packed, and stored for the season. We’ve

both got garden updates: in Dan’s backyard, the Bosc pear tree is loaded with

beautiful golden-russet fruit. We’ll also share how to tell the difference

between when Bartlett-type pears and variety pears are truly ready to eat.

Ross is talking salad bowls (and has a message for the

producers of those bowls), Also on his table are celery hearts and Persian

cukes. Kiwi berries, quince, and more on Dan’s table as he shares the striking beauty

of russeting on California Golden Delicious apples.

It’s all right here on Fresh from the Field Fridays,

from the Produce Industry Network and AgLife Media!

In this episode of the Global Fresh Series, we sit down with Dave McCary of ZAG Technical Services to explore how cybersecurity and ransomware are reshaping the fresh produce industry. From recent high-profile attacks on produce companies to the hidden vulnerabilities in supply chains, Dave shares why protecting data and operations is just as critical as protecting the crops themselves. We discuss the real costs of downtime, how hackers exploit weaknesses, and the steps growers, shippers, and distributors can take today to safeguard their businesses — and the global food supply — from digital threats.

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

Premium Sponsor: Zag Technological Services, Inc.: https://www.zagtech.com/

Premium Sponsor: Avocados from Colombia: https://avocadoscolombia.com/

Premium Sponsor: The Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation: https://fvdrc.com/

Global Women Fresh: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://globalwomenfresh.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠