This week on The Global Fresh Series, we take a wide-angle look at how rapidly shifting environmental conditions, global demand, and innovation are reshaping the fresh produce landscape.

We begin in California, where the state has officially been declared drought-free, marking a major turning point for growers, water policy, and long-term agricultural planning.

From there, we travel to Southeast Asia, where surging demand for durian—driven by the Chinese market—is transforming the small rural village of Raub, in Malaysia. Once a quiet agricultural area, Raub is now positioning itself as a global supplier, expanding durian production and opening new export channels to India.

We close the episode with a look at innovation closer to home, as four new potato varieties are introduced to the market—highlighting how plant breeding, consumer preferences, and adaptability continue to drive opportunity in staple crops.

From climate resilience to exotic fruit demand and varietal innovation, this episode captures the interconnected forces shaping the future of global fresh produce.

What happened when Joseph Banks finally put to sea - and discovery left the comfort of gardens behind? How would a voyage meant to advance science collide with storms, suspicion, imperial rivalries, and human tragedy? And what would it cost to catalogue the natural world at the far edges of the globe?

Join John and Patrick as they follow Banks aboard HMS Endeavour, from vineyards in Madeira and standoffs in Rio de Janeiro to catastrophe in Tierra del Fuego and the intoxicating promise of Tahiti. This is science under sail: plants collected at gunpoint, lives lost to ice and overconfidence, and the birth of a vision that would bind botany, empire, and exploration together - whether the world was ready for it or not.

----------

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!

1. Share this episode with your friends
2. Give a 5-star rating
3. 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, Patrick Kelly welcomes Wiggs Civitillo, Founder and CEO of Starfish, for a conversation. Wiggs shares his background, experiences, and perspective, offering insight into his journey and the path that led him to where he is today. Through the discussion, listeners get to know Wiggs both personally and professionally, and hear his story in a natural, conversational way.

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man and Ross the Produce Boss dive into the biggest fresh produce and food trends of 2025—and look ahead to what’s coming in 2026.

From fresh-cut vs. bulk on the produce stand to mushrooms, berries, and the ever-growing wall of salads, we break down what’s hot, what’s changing, and what shoppers are actually buying.

We also tackle the age-old question: how many servings of fruits and vegetables should you really be eating? Remember “five a day”? What exactly counts as a serving—and how much is enough?

Plus, salad talk: how to dress your greens without drowning them in heavy, fatty dressings.

It’s all right here on Fresh from the Field Fridays, from the Produce Industry Network, powered by AgLife Media.

In this timely episode of the Global Fresh Series, we sit down with Ron Lemaire, President of the Canadian Fresh Produce Association, for a candid conversation on one of the most challenging years the global fresh produce industry has faced in recent memory.

Ron reflects on the realities of 2025—marked by shifting tariffs, trade uncertainty, and geopolitical pressures—and how these forces reshaped supply chains and business strategies across borders. He also shares how new partnerships were forged, existing relationships strengthened, and innovative approaches adopted to keep fresh produce moving despite the headwinds.

Who was Joseph Banks before he became the most powerful botanist in the British Empire? How did a wealthy, restless young man turn a childhood fascination with weeds into a scientific obsession that would reshape global agriculture? And why did one cold, miserable voyage to Newfoundland prove to be the spark that launched a world-changing career?

Join John and Patrick as they begin a brand-new multi-part series on Joseph Banks, tracing his early life from privileged English estates to the edge of the North Atlantic - and setting the stage for the voyages that would transform science, empire, and the history of fresh produce.

----------

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!

1. Share this episode with your friends
2. Give a 5-star rating
3. 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 today’s episode of The Produce Industry Podcast, host Patrick Kelly breaks down one of the most pressing issues facing California citrus growers this season: the unexpected surge in mandarin fruit drop.

With a lighter crop already forecasted, above‑average rain, persistent fog, and rising fungal pressure have created a perfect storm in the groves — and growers across the Northern Central Valley are feeling the impact. Patrick unpacks the science, the weather patterns, the market implications, and the real‑world decisions growers are making right now to protect their operations.

From Fungal stress to delayed harvest windows, from packout concerns to pricing shifts, this episode gives you a clear, grounded look at what’s happening, why it’s happening, and what the industry needs to prepare for as the 2025–26 season unfolds.

Website: www.aglifemedia.com

Mobile App: app.theproduceindustrypodcast.com

It’s a new year on Fresh-from-the-Field Fridays, and Dan the Produce Man brings you four in-season favorites.

We kick things off with broccolini, also known as sweet baby broccoli, where it came from, why it goes by so many different names, and why the stems matter.

With all the rain in Northern California, chanterelle mushrooms are abundant right now, and they remain a true favorite among chefs.

A brief field update from strawberry fields in Watsonville.

We also get into sunchokes. Are these sunny artichokes? Well, not really. Find out what this tasty tuber is all about.

And we wrap things up with a quick blurb on the Sumo Mandarin, including which three citrus varieties contributed to its development.

It’s all right here on Fresh-from-the-Field Fridays, on the Produce Industry Network and AgLife Media.