Shows
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesTime to Celebrate Watermelon!July is the month when Americans celebrate their nation’s independence. The Founding Fathers started the country to ensure its citizens’ life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And July is also a time when the nation celebrates a fruit that helps in that pursuit of happiness. Yes, it’s National Watermelon Month and the Produce Buzzers are honoring this delicious and joy-inspiring fruit. They are joined by a woman who probably knows more about watermelons than anyone on the planet.
Rachel Syngo is Chief Marketing Officer of Melon 1, the oldest and largest shipper of waterme...2024-07-1151 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesFarmworkers: Unsung HeroesDoing good is good business. That is the belief of Raul Fernandez and Martin Casanova of THX! Dreams, a fresh produce company that donates part of their profits to help farm workers fulfill vital needs. Raul and Martin join us this week on the podcast to tell us how THX! Dreams is providing many types of necessities to needy families who work on the farms where their fruits and veggies are grown. From computers and tablets for children in school, to home improvements like adding rooms to their homes, to online education and medical needs. The company is growing...2024-06-2752 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesCherries Jubilee!You may have noticed that beautiful, delicious cherries are starting to show up in the produce sections of your favorite grocery stores. Yes, it’s a wonderful time of year when the new crop makes its way to the fresh produce aisle. Our guest this week has spent his career at one of the largest and premier fruit growers in the nation. Mac Riggan is the Director of Marketing for Chelan Fresh and the Joyfully Grown brand, one of the largest growers and shippers of cherries in North America. Mac estimates that they harvest about 120 billion cherries a year!...2024-06-1554 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesMicrogreens: The Tiny Veggies with a Powerful PunchHave you ever tried microgreens? If not, you will be fascinated by this week’s episode. We have an expert on them who is pioneering growing methods for these tiny little versions of the veggies and greens you know so well in adult form. They are packed with flavor and nutrition.
Microgreens are vegetable greens (not to be confused with sprouts or shoots) harvested just after the first little leaves come onto the plant. They are used to add sweetness and spiciness to foods. They are loaded with nutrients and have been shown to have five times as...2024-06-061h 03
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesJapanese-Americans Impact on American AgricultureMay is Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This week we have a very special guest on the show who is going to tell us about the substantial contribution that Japanese Americans made to American agriculture, especially on the West Coast, from California through Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Ron Inatomi is a third-generation (Sansei) Japanese American who has been working in the produce industry for over 40 years. In our discussion with him, we will learn how industrious the first and second-generation Japanese Americans were and how they rose to be some of the largest growers of fruits and vegetables...2024-05-2347 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesMango Mania! Celebrating "The World's Fruit"Mangos are available all year round but this time of year is one of the best times for the best quality mangos. So in this week’s episode, we celebrate this delicious and healthy fruit, one of the most popular fruits in the world, if not the most popular. Often called “The World’s Fruit,” mangos are one of the oldest fruits known to humans. Indian Hindustan writings referenced them over 4,000 years ago. India is where they originated and are considered a sacred fruit there as well as in other Asian cultures. They became symbols for many rulers and spiritua...2024-05-0943 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesThe Surprising History (And Fruits) of Cinco de MayoTime once again to celebrate a quintessential American holiday; Cinco de Mayo! Yes, that's right. It's more American than Mexican despite celebrating the wonderful culture of our neighbors down south. Most people don't know the history of Cinco de Mayo. And even more don't realize that the battle it celebrates was more important for the United States than for Mexico, even though Americans didn't fight in it. Tune it to learn the surprising history of the day. You will also learn how to pick the perfect avocado and keep them perfect for weeks, the amazing health benefits of cilantro...2024-05-0353 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesJuice Up Your Diet!On the Produce Buzzers Podcast, we usually only feature fresh fruits and veggies instead of processed products. But there are some good processed products in the produce aisle. Most juices in the grocery store are not very good for you. They are often made with concentrated fruit juice which is almost like pure sugar syrup. But if you look in the produce section you will find some that are loaded with nutritional benefits. One of the best brands is Suja Juice. All organic and non-GMO, their juices undergo “high-pressure processing” to extend their shelf life without using any heat or p...2024-04-2532 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesLoving the Land and Feeding the WorldThe Giumarra Companies have been fulfilling those two missions for over 100 years. This week’s guest will tell us about that legacy and about some delicious new varieties from this company that sells almost every fruit and veggie. Have you heard of the new “Lemonade” apple?
This week’s guest on the podcast represents a company that began as a family farm over 100 years ago. Gary Caloroso is Regional Business Development Director for the Giumarra Companies, founded along with his brothers in 1922 by Giuseppe “Joe” Giumarra an immigrant from Sicily. The company started as a wholesaler and distributor...2024-04-1124 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesHallelujah! It's Artichoke Season!Yes, once again, it's one of the most sacred times of the year. Yes, Easter, Passover, and Ramadan. But for fruit and veggie lovers, it's also a new season of artichokes. It's here and in full swing. So we are going to peel away the leaves on this heavenly veggie, (which technically is a flower!) to get a closer look at it.
To do so, we welcome back a great friend of the Produce Buzzers, Mark Munger. Mark is Senior Director of Marketing for Ocean Mist Farms based in Castroville, CA in the Bay Area of the...2024-03-2921 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesExciting New and Delicious Items From Melissa's ProduceThis week we are delighted to have Robert Schueller, Director of Public Relations at Melissa’s World Variety Produce, back on the show. Robert has been dubbed the “Produce Expert” by the media since he has unique access to such a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. He has written several books about the cornucopia Mother Nature has to offer in the world of fresh produce.
In this week’s episode, Robert has a long list of new and delicious items from Melissa’s Produce, the largest purveyor of fresh produce in the U.S. Listen in to hear abo...2024-03-2054 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesFood Waste and Hunger: A National EmergencyA Group of Young People Are Diminishing a National Tragedy to Help Solve a National Emergency. Listen to the Inspiring Story of The Farmlink Project and Their Heroic Procurement Officer to Learn How Food Waste is Being Redirected to Hungry Families.
This week we have an inspiring story to tell you about a group of young people who came together during the Covid crisis to help address one of the world’s biggest problems—hunger. And our guest today became one of their advisors and eventually a full-time soldier in their war against food insecurity. Luis Yepiz, the C...2024-03-071h 00
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesYou Need to Try the Noblest, Juiciest, Crunchiest Tangerines!As our regular listeners know, we love to feature family farms on our program to help dispel the myth that agriculture in the U.S. is all huge corporations. Our guest this week is a third-generation farmer of a family farm that has been growing citrus in Florida for almost 100 years! It is a testament to their hard work and dedication to keep their land in production. To do so over those many years, they have faced overwhelming odds created by adverse weather, devastating pests and disease, and perhaps the greatest pressure of all, escalating real estate and land...2024-02-221h 04
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesSumo Citrus: The Ugliest Most Beautiful Citrus FruitThis week on the Produce Buzzers Podcast we are going to learn about a unique citrus fruit that is taking the fruit world by storm. It is fast becoming a “heavy weight” in the produce aisle. It is a fruit that no doubt you are seeing front and center in the produce departments right now and will see for the next few months. But they are not a pretty sight! They are odd shaped and covered in bumps. And to top it off, they have one huge bump on the top of the fruit that makes it look like it i...2024-02-0853 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesPlay Fruit & Veggie Jeopardy! With the Produce BuzzersThis week we are going to have some more game show fun on the podcast and test our Produce Buzzers knowledge of different fruits and veggies. They will play a version of the classic TV Game Show “Jeopardy” with all the categories being about fruits and veggies. They will choose clues from these topics:
· Fruit Fiesta
· Veggie Ventury
· Berry Bliss
· Citrus Spectacle
· Tropical Treasures
· Veggie Impersonators
That last category features produce items that are thought of and used like vegetables but technically they are not.
Each category has clues worth $100...2024-01-2644 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesThe Power of Peanuts: A Bona Fide SuperfoodPeanuts are a superfood. Most everyone knows they are loaded with protein. But they are also loaded with many other nutrients. And they are super in several other ways. They rejuvenate the soil and, like soybeans, they can produce more protein per acre than all other plants. They are also environmentally and ecologically good for the planet.
This week’s guest has been practicing and teaching medicine for almost 40 years. He is going to tell us about this superfood that you should be eating every day to build and sustain your health. Perhaps you eat peanuts often. Bu...2024-01-0850 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesThe Produce Buzzers Podcast 2023 HighlightsWhat a fantastic year it has been on the PB Podcast! Our audience grew steadily and continues to grow. And that is in large part to the wonderful guests we had on the show during the past year. So today we are going to dedicate the last episode of the year to these giants in the produce industry and the world of fruits and veggies and the nutrition they provide. We are going to reminisce about some of the highlights from these interesting experts.
There are way too many highlights from the show that we would like...2023-12-2836 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesWelch’s: It's Not Just Juice and Jam. It’s Also Fresh Grapes and Berries!Many, if not most of you have grown up knowing and consuming delicious grape flavored products made by Welch’s. Grape juice, jams, and jellies. Along with a whole line of other fruit based products. The company has been around for over 150 years! But did you know that you can also get delicious fresh fruit from Welch’s? That’s right. You can. And today we will be hearing from a man who knows all about them. And makes sure those treats are in your produce aisle year-round.
Andy Kampa is our guest this week. He is general...2023-12-1855 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesExotic Twists for Your Holiday VeggiesThis week we are delighted to have Robert Schueller of Melissa’s World Variety Produce back on the show. He has been dubbed “The Produce Expert by countless consumer and national trade publications along with TV and radio personalities.
There is probably no one on the planet who is more of an expert on produce than Robert because his company sells over fifteen hundred different varieties of fresh fruits and veggies from all over the world. He has written several books on fresh produce including Melissa’s Great Book of Produce which tells all about some of...2023-11-201h 02
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesPlay "The Veggie Iron Chef" with the Produce Buzzers and ChatGPTThis week we are launching a new segment for the podcast that we hope will become a regular feature throughout each season. As our regular listeners know, all of us Produce Buzzers like to cook. None of us are professional chefs, but we are all “foodies” and have a good sense of what makes a good dish and how to pair those dishes to make a good meal. So, I am confident that each of us could stand his or her own on a show like the “Iron Chef.”
So today on the podcast, we are going...2023-11-0639 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesYou Will Want ¡Yo Quiero!We haven’t yet had an episode on the podcast that featured packaged products of fruits and vegetables. But that doesn’t mean we don’t think there are not any good ones in the produce aisle. Pre-cut, prepared, and pre-packaged fresh fruits and veggies have gained a lot of popularity with consumers over the past decade and for good reason. With our lives becoming busier and busier, these products can save a lot of time on getting the evening meal on the family table. This week we have a guest who is going to tell us about some fantas...2023-10-1650 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesWatermelon WomanWatermelons are never out of season. And today we have a special guest to tell us how that can be and why you should be including watermelon on your shopping list all year long. She will reveal some surprising info about them that will convince you of this.
Rachel Syngo is Chief Marketing Officer of Melon 1, the oldest and largest shipper of watermelons in the U.S. She has real passion for the work she is doing, which is why we are delighted to have her on the podcast to share that since we are all about...2023-10-071h 10
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesCousin Colette Shares a Tasty TreatThis week the Produce Buzzers are going to take a walk down memory lane and reminisce about the wonderful food we grew up with in Western North Carolina which always featured lots of fruits and veggies fresh off the farm.
To help us do that we have a very special guest returning to the program. Our guest today is our cousin Colette Worley. Her mother was our father’s sister. Her family owned a very popular restaurant in our hometown of Hendersonville, NC, called “The Tasty Treat.” You could get just about anything you wanted to eat at thei...2023-09-3059 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesFruits and Veggies All in the FamilyA mother and daughter-in-law share how their love of fresh fruits and veggies changed their lives. A conversation with a professional dietitian and her favorite patient. This week we have a very interesting mother-in-law, daughter-in-law duo as our guests. Both of them have a passion for all things fruit and veggie and are going to share that passion with us today and explain why fresh produce not only brings great joy, but is key in maintaining and bolstering your health.
Stephanie McBurnett is a registered dietitian who is doing some very important work to get fruits and...2023-09-141h 04
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesGenerations of Joy: Growing Apples, Pears, and Cherries Is In Their GenesOur guest this week has spent his career at one of the largest and premiere fruit growers in the nation. Mac Riggan, the director of marketing for Chelan Fresh and the “Joyfully Grown” brand, joins us to tell us the story of the Chelan Fresh farmers.
Chelan Fresh is a shipper of apples, pears, and cherries owned by the farmers who grow the fruit. Their farms are family-owned, many of which are now being led by the fourth, fifth, and even sixth generations of those families. Sons and daughters have followed in the footsteps of their parents and...2023-08-1243 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesLet Food Be Thy Medicine: Prescribing Fresh Produce for Health CareWe have a very special guest returning to the show this week. Lori Taylor is the Founder & CEO of The Produce Moms®, a global community on a mission to put more fruits and vegetables on every table. She has been making a great impact in getting more people to eat fresh fruits and vegetables through the wonderfully creative content on her website theproducemoms.com. Lori is also a fellow podcaster as the host of The Produce Moms Podcast. Over the past month she featured a very interesting series there on the subject of “Food As Medicine.” We are going to as...2023-07-1553 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesFour Freaky Fabulous Fruits! Lychess, Rambutans, Mangosteens, and Passion FruitThis week we are delighted to have Robert Schueller, Director of Public Relations at Melissa’s World Variety Produce, back on the show. Robert has been dubbed the “Produce Expert” by the media since he has unique access to such a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. He has written several books about the cornucopia Mother Nature has to offer in the world of fresh produce.
In this week’s episode, Robert is going to tell us about some strange but wonderful exotic fruits. These fruits are freaky and look so strange. Eating them is an adventure too. We...2023-07-0155 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesArtichokes: The Veggie of Passion and Love!Artichoke season is here and in full swing. The origin of these deliciously creamy and rich flavored vegetables is an interesting journey around the Mediterranean to the modern world. And has for thousands of years been associated with romance. In this week’s episode, we are going to get an in-depth look at this veggie, which technically is a flower!
This week’s guest is Mark Munger, Senior Director of Marketing for Ocean Mist Farms based in Castroville, CA in the Monterey, CA area. The company has been around for almost 100 years and was the first to grow...2023-06-131h 06
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesMangos: The Fruit for Your Soul!June is National Mango Month. So, in this week’s episode we celebrate this delicious and healthy fruit, one of the most popular fruits in the world, if not the most popular. Mangos originated in India and are considered a sacred fruit there as well as other Asian cultures. They became symbols for many rulers and spiritual leaders throughout Indian and Asian history. According to legend, Buddha meditated under a mango tree.
This week’s guest is Dr, Noris Ledesma, a horticulturist specializing in tropical fruits. She is one of the world's foremost experts on mangos. She is an...2023-06-0345 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesThe Legacy of Japanese American FarmersMay is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month so we have a guest today who is going to enlighten us on the great contributions Japanese Americans made to agriculture in the United States beginning in the late nineteenth century and continuing today. Our guest this week is Glenn Tanaka, a.k.a. “Farmer Tanaka,” a third-generation Japanese American farmer who is continuing the legacy of his family’s farms in Southern California. He joins us along with Ron Inatomi, a produce manager at Gelson’s Markets in Southern California. They will talk about the major contributions that Japanese American...2023-05-2049 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesDan The Produce Man!Build your passion for fresh fruits and veggies as you listen to a 50-Year Veteran of the Produce Industry. Our guest this week is Dan Avakian, a.k.a. “Dan, The Produce Man” and he has almost 50 years working in the produce business. He has a deep passion for all things about fresh produce and brings that energy, along with his deep, rich, velvety voice when he talks about fruits and vegetables to his audience. He was probably the first person to have a radio show that focused on fresh produce. Long before we had the term “podcasting” our guest wa...2023-04-271h 05
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesThe Vidalia Onion: How Sweet It Is!Spring has arrived and spring vegetables have been showing up in your local produce aisles and markets for a few weeks now. But this week is the sweetest week of the spring vegetable season. That is because this is the week that the sweetest onions in the world will be first shipped for the 2023 season. Yes, it’s time for a fresh crop of Vidalia Onions. They are named for a small town in Georgia which is at the center of the growing region for onions in the state. The area there has a special soil that gives them th...2023-04-2044 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesDon’t Fear the “Dirty Dozen” Your Fruits and Veggies Are Safe Whether They Are Organic or NotThe Environmental Working Group recently released its annual report known as “The Dirty Dozen” which identifies the fruits and veggies that have the most pesticide residue. But the fear it inspires might harm our health more than these pesticides. This week's guest is Dr. Steve Savage, a plant pathologist, and agricultural expert who has studied the data in great detail. Listen to our latest podcast to hear his findings. They may surprise you. He will answer whether organic is safer than conventionally grown produce. If you are not eating fresh fruits and veggies because you are afraid of these resi...2023-04-121h 00
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesA "Banana Badass" & Her Quest for Fair TradeBananas are underpriced. This most popular fruit is one of the cheapest fruits per pound in the produce aisle. They are usually one-fourth to one-third the price of apples, oranges, and pears. The reason is that the farmers and farm workers who grow and harvest the fruit are underpaid, while the global companies who export and distribute them keep the vast share of the profits. Our guest this week on the podcast is out to change that. Kim Chackal is the Director of Sales and Marketing at Equifruit based in Montreal, Canada. They are the leading importer of Fairtrade...2023-04-0554 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesBoiling Down the Truth About Peanuts: The Amazing Boiled PeanutThe peanut originated in South America and was first cultivated by Indigenous people in Peru. It was a status symbol in those societies and used as a currency! So, working for peanuts there was not a bad thing. But peanuts throughout the centuries were mostly eaten boiled. Since the 1800’s people in the Southern United States have preferred them boiled rather than roasted. In fact, roasted peanuts did not come onto the scene until the mid-20th Century. And peanuts in most other cultures around the world are primarily eaten boiled.
Lauren Marcinkoski, CEO of Luray Peanut Co...2023-03-2956 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesFresh Produce Pioneer: The Woman Visionary Who Brings You Your BerriesWe have a unique guest joining us on the podcast this week. She is a pioneer in the produce industry and one of the first women to establish her own business in the fresh produce world. Janice Honigberg is the founder and CEO of Sun Belle, a leading grower and importer of all types of berries and some other specialty fruits and vegetables. Janice’s story is an inspiring one. She is truly a visionary who anticipated and instigated trends that changed the global fruit and veggie markets. She was one of the first to begin importing berries from Ce...2023-03-1957 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesRisky Fruit: The Legal Challenges Faced by the Growers of Your Fresh ProduceFarmers and purveyors of fresh fruit and vegetables face tremendous risks like no other business or industry. In addition to the risk of adverse weather, pests, and the high perishability of their products, they put themselves at legal risk. This week’s guest is an attorney who helps them navigate those legal minefields. Katy Koestner Esquivel has over 15 years of litigation and advisory experience in the produce industry. She has earned a reputation for being a fearless, thorough, and aggressive advocate for her clients. Add to that her experiences as a woman, and a mom, as well as her pe...2023-03-1251 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesWhere Do Your Pickles Come From?Today the Produce Buzzers are in a bit of a pickle. But don’t worry. We wanted to be. Because we are going to honor one of our favorite foods—pickles! Almost any vegetable can be pickled but we are going to focus on the most common ones, those made from cucumbers. And we have one of the country’s foremost experts on them with us today. Bill Olvey buys and sells cucumbers to pickle packers all over the U.S. He joins us to tell us all about how they are grown, harvested, processed, and packed. S05:E062023-02-2743 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesWhat's New In 2023? Miracle Berries?!This week, we welcome back Robert Schueller of Melissa’s World Variety Produce. He will tell us about some unusual, exciting, and delicious new products they will be offering in 2023. Robert’s official title at Melissa’s is Director of Public Relations. But we prefer his unofficial title given to him by countless consumer and national trade publications along with TV and radio personalities. “Produce Expert.” There probably is no one on the planet who is more of an expert on produce than Robert because his company sells well over a thousand different varieties of fresh fruits and veggies from all o...2023-02-1254 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesIt Takes a Community. The Complex Journey of Your Fruits and VeggiesPatrick Kelly is a recognized expert in the supply chain for fresh produce. For more than 15 years Patrick has been dedicated to growing supply chains for produce partners around the world. He is also a fellow podcaster with a show that focuses on how the industry works. He joins the Produce Buzzers to tell us all about how fruits and veggies get from the farm to your table. It’s a complex system with delicate time and temperature sensitivities. It involves the dedication of a community of people who work tirelessly to ensure that they arrive as fresh as po...2023-02-0452 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesIt's Chinese New Year! Celebrating the Delicious Fruits Treasured In the Festivities.The Chinese calendar is based primarily on the phases of the moon which is why this celebration is also called the Lunar New Year. The new year usually begins on the second new moon after the winter solstice. This year it begins on January 22nd and ends on February 5th. It is believed that the Chinese have celebrated the new year for about 3,500 years. But the first reference to it came from a Chinese agronomist during the Han Dynasty named Cui Shi. He wrote a book on agriculture called Simin Yeuling sometime during the second century A.D. So...2023-01-2251 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesCitrus From Heaven! Halos Brand Mandarins And Seedless Lemons!January is the beginning of the season for the most delicious citrus fruit of the year. Groves in California, Florida, and Texas are getting into full production and will peak soon in flavor and volume. To celebrate that, we have a guest on the show this week who is one of the world’s foremost experts on tree fruit, especially citrus. Zak Laffite, the president of Wonderful Citrus, one of the largest growers and shippers of citrus in the world and the largest in North America. They grow and market the Halos brand of mandarins and clementines, one of th...2023-01-1454 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesSuper Satisfying Snow Season SoupsWelcome to Season Five of the Produce Buzzers Podcast! We start the New Year with a little alliteration. LOL! There is no more satisfying meal in the cold winter months than one featuring a hot, rich, and hearty soup. And if it is chock full of veggies there is nothing that is healthier. But soups are not just gastronomic treats. They are usually very quick and easy to make and very budget friendly. Now that the winter is here the Produce Buzzers wanted to share a few recipes for their favorite soups. Tune in to learn how to make...2023-01-071h 05
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesThank You Produce Buzzers Guests in 2022!On this week’s episode of PB Podcast, we want to look back at 2022 and pay tribute to the wonderful guests we had on the show. They helped make our podcast one of the most popular podcasts in the food category and right at the top of podcasts about fruits and veggies. So get ready for some of the best clips of the podcast in 2022 featuring the most interesting and knowledgeable experts in the fresh produce industry. This show is chock full of fascinating nuggets about fruits and veggies. Hope you enjoy it. And we have many more lined up...2022-12-3145 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesI'm Dreaming of a Warm Christmas: Fruits and Veggies For Celebrating The Holidays Down UnderWhen we think of Christmas, we tend to believe that most of the world will celebrate it beside a toasty fire indoors wearing comfy sweaters and nice warm socks because, well. “Baby, it’s cold outside.” We see them imbibing imbibe in hot chocolate and hot mulled cider. They are feasting on roasted meats, winter root vegetables, and the fruits of deciduous trees like apples and pears. But on the other side of the earth, it will be the beginning of summer. And along the center of the earth, most people will still be able to go outside in shorts...2022-12-2251 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesThe Fruit and Veggie Hunter: The Man Who Is Documenting The World's Amazing Fruits and VegetablesThis week we have an extraordinary guest on the show with a fascinating mission in the world of fresh fruits and veggies. This man has to be one of the foremost experts, if not THE foremost expert, on the amazing diversity of edible plants that mother nature has to offer. Bob Harrington is the president of Specialty Produce, a wholesaler of fresh fruits and vegetables primarily to restaurants in San Diego, CA. They sell every type of fruit and vegetable, but as the name implies, they have become an invaluable source for chefs of more exotic, rare, and hard-to-find...2022-12-1457 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesDoing Good Is Good Business: How One Produce Company Is Giving Back to Needy FarmhandsDoing good is good business. That is the belief of Martin Casanova of THX! Dreams, a fresh produce company that donates part of its profits to help farm workers fulfill vital needs. And it is not only his belief, but he is showing that it is true. THX! Dreams provides many types of necessities to needy families who work on farms where their fruits and veggies are grown--from computers and tablets for children in school to home improvements like adding rooms to their homes to online education and medical needs. Listen to the podcast to be inspired by Martin’s...2022-12-0255 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesNational Roasting Month! Roasting and the Rapid Rise of HumansIt will probably come as no surprise that November is National Roasting Month since the Thanksgiving meal most often features plenty of roasted dishes. So just in time for your holiday meal, the Produce Buzzers talk about a few of the best vegetables to accompany your turkey. Beets, Brussels sprouts, and rutabagas. But some anthropologists believe that humans learning to cook may have been one of the primary reasons for their rapid development physically. And that might help explain the vast difference between humans and animals. The first method of cooking for humans was roasting.2022-11-1750 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesFighting Fruit Frustration! How to Keep Your Fresh Produce Fresher LongerConsumers have always despaired over the high perishability of fruits and veggies and how easy it is to lose them to rot or decay before having a chance to eat them. But now that Inflation is here and stinging us in the …ummmmm… back pocket, throwing away those veggies is even more painful. Even before the pandemic and the steep rise in costs we have seen over the past year, tossing out those moldy berries or sprouting potatoes has discouraged people from eating more fresh fruits and vegetables. But now the Produce Buzzers are here to help. Today we are...2022-10-3155 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesItaly's Special Ingredients for Living "La Bella Vita"We all desire “La Bella Vita” or the beautiful life. And eating lots of fresh fruits and veggies is one of the keys to experiencing it. In Italian, “Bella Vita” translates literally as “beautiful life” but, it also means “healthy life.” The Italians know well the ingredients and recipe for a beautiful and healthy life. This week’s guest on the podcast is an Italian man who has been in the fresh produce business for his entire life and his family for over a century. Celso Paganini is the owner and CEO of Bella Vita Foods, a company helping bring those Italia...2022-10-1152 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesPlay the "Which of These Is A Real Fruit" Quiz GameHow well do you know your exotic fruits and veggies? Mother Nature has given us some strange and wacky fruits to delight us and sometimes disgust us, but either way, they are fascinating. Some of Mother Nature’s weird creations have become commonplace for us in the modern world, like kiwifruit. But some exotic fruits have not made their way to our grocery store shelves here in the United States and are weird in name, appearance, and flavor. So today we will play a game we call “Which of these is a real fruit?”2022-09-2942 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesThe Produce Mom's Amazing Journey`She is “The” Produce Mom." But she will not pester you like your mom did and tell you to “Eat your veggies!” Instead, she will inspire you to LOVE fresh fruit and veggies and make them a delight in your meals like they should be. Lori Taylor, founder and CEO of The Produce Moms® joins the Produce Buzzers to tell her amazing story of creating a multimedia powerhouse that is having a major impact in getting people to eat more fresh fruits and veggies. The Produce Moms® is a global community and Certified B Corporation that is on a mission to...2022-09-191h 09
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesTime to Celebrate National Fruits and Veggies Month!September is National Fruit and Vegetable Month! Since we are celebrating all things fruit and veggie this month, we are thrilled to have back on the podcast this week a woman who is at the epicenter of efforts to get people to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, RDN, is the President and CEO of the Produce for Better Health (PBH) Foundation. At PBH, she guides the Foundation’s efforts to work with more than 500 industry and government partners to advance the overall effort of increasing fruit and vegetable consumption through all produce forms — fresh, froz...2022-09-0551 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesThe Marvel of Mushrooms!You have heard of “Johnny Appleseed,” but have you heard of “Johnny Mushroom Spore?” He is the man who is spreading mushrooms throughout Western North Carolina, and we have him on the podcast this week. Greg Carter of Deep Woods Mushrooms in Mills River, NC, joins us to tell us about the amazing world of mushrooms. Greg has been growing mushrooms for over 20 years and has made a successful career out of growing, foraging, and selling mushrooms. He also teaches people how to forage for wild mushrooms and how to grow them using the best methods for the highest quality...2022-08-161h 08
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesThe Paradox of Peak Summer Fruits!Fresh fruits and vegetables are a bit of a paradox because they are probably the only thing you can buy that are usually the least expensive when their quality is at its best. That is because the peak volume and supply typically coincide with the peak quality. We are once again joined by Robert Schueller of Melissa's World Variety Produce, a recognized "Produce Expert." Robert is eager to share with you all the information about some of the summertime's most delicious fruits. These fruits are in peak season now in August and exhibit the fruit and veggie paradox the...2022-08-0839 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesThe Cult of Hatch Chili Peppers!What is the hottest pepper in the world? Not the Carolina Reaper, not the Ghost Pepper, not the Scotch Bonnet! It's the Hatch Chili Pepper! But we are not talking about Scoville or heat levels. We are talking about popularity. It's so popular that it has a cult following. But they are only available six to eight weeks each year. From August to September, many Hatch chili enthusiasts buy scores of pounds (several cases) of these peppers to roast and freeze so they can have them year-round. A major festival is dedicated to them in their hometown of Hatch...2022-08-0141 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesCanned Pears! The Most Delicious Fruit You Can Get in a CanAs our regular listeners know, we focus primarily on fresh fruits and veggies on the podcast, but we are not discriminatory when it comes to frozen and canned fruits and veggies. Especially knowing that freezing and canning of fresh produce is often done just hours after harvesting and preserves the nutrients of those fruits and veggies allowing them to be enjoyed much longer than fresh. So today we are going to diverge from our fresh tradition and talk about one of the most delicious fruits you can get in a can. Pears from the Pacific Northwest United States. To...2022-07-2445 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesCelebrate National Blueberry Month and National Peach Month!July is one of the most abundant months for all kinds of fruits and veggies. And there are many celebrations featuring so many of them. July is National Blueberry Month and National Peach Month. So, we join in the celebration by replaying a couple of segments from last year in which we featured these two most delicious summer fruits. The blueberry is one of only a few fruits native to North America. Learn the surprising story of how the wild versions became cultivated and grown commercially, producing the superior varieties available today.2022-07-1820 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesThe Produce Buzzers Get Corny for National Corn Month. And Spinach!Corn is now the world’s most abundant grain surpassing wheat and rice by huge margins. Twice as much corn is produced annually as rice and more than one and a half times more than wheat. But it is not primarily used for human consumption. But since it is National Corn Month, we salute sweet corn as a mainstay for those summertime barbecues. Learn how to select and cook the perfect corn on the cob. And July 16th is National Spinach Day, so we salute Popeye’s favorite source of strength.2022-07-1145 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesWatermelon: The Happy Fruit! July Is National Watermelon MonthMark Twain once wrote, “to taste watermelon is to know what the angels eat.” July is National Watermelon month. And this week we celebrate American Independence. Watermelons are always on the table at Fourth of July parties. So, we celebrate this fruit deservedly called “The Happy Fruit” in this week’s episode. Our guest is a seasoned veteran of the produce industry and has helped promote, market, and merchandise watermelons for over 25 years! Tune in to find out all about watermelons. And maybe most importantly, get some great tips for choosing a good one at the market.2022-07-0245 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesMango Mania! Celebrating the World’s Most Popular Superfruit.June is National Mango Month. So, in this week’s episode, we celebrate this delicious and healthy fruit, one of the most popular fruits in the world, if not the most popular. Mangos originated in India and are considered a sacred fruit there as well as in other Asian cultures. We don’t know if mangos are actually sacred, but we do know that the experience of eating them is divine! And the health benefits are tremendous. Our special guest, Manuel Michel, executive director of the National Mango Board, joins us to tell us all about mangos. 2022-06-2553 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesThe Myth and Origin of the Cornucopia. And Cherries and Apricots!June is National Fruits and Vegetables Month. Our modern world is so blessed with such an abundant supply of fresh fruits and veggies. Not only in terms of quantity, but also with amazing varieties, and with supplies of almost all of them year-round. It is as if we have found the mythical “cornucopia” that Zeus, the leader of the Greek gods, head of the pantheon on Mount Olympus, created. The cornucopia is a symbol of never-ending supply of sustenance. So we thought it would be fun to tell the story of the origin of the “horn of plenty.” And it’s the...2022-06-1751 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesHow Safe Are Your Fruits and Veggies? Tracy Fry Talks About Advances in the Prevention of Food-Borne IllnessesEvery now and then, news breaks announcing an occurrence of food-borne illness in the food supply. These sometimes cause panic and inspire fear of buying fresh fruits and vegetables. As often as we hear about them, the reality is that they are very rare considering how much food is being shipped every day. This week’s guest is Tracy Fry of iFoodDS, a company that is pioneering methods to track every step of the distribution process for our fruits and veggies. The progress being made is making our food safer and safer. Tracy will tell us how technology is im...2022-06-1237 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesTime to Spice Things Up! June 10th is National Herbs and Spices DayThis week, on June 10th, we celebrate National Herbs and Spices Day. So, we dedicate this episode to honor these delicious flavorings that make our fruits and veggies taste even better. To do that we have invited Melinda Richardson to join us on the podcast. She is an account executive at Gourmet Garden, an Australian company that is spicing things up with its delicious products that give you the flavor of fresh herbs, but in a way that makes them last much longer. Melinda is a veteran of the fresh produce industry and has a lot of information to...2022-06-0449 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesThe Fruit and Veggie Celebrations of May: Salad, Salsa, and Asparagus!May is a great month for celebrating veggies! It’s National Salad Month, National Salsa Month, and National Asparagus Month. So, we dedicate this episode to them all. Learn about the history of salad. Surprisingly, it’s really quite interesting. And we dance around with America’s favorite condiment. No, it’s not mayonnaise or ketchup. It’s salsa! And then we tell you all about wonderful asparagus. It’s the perfect season for enjoying this unique veggie.2022-05-2957 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesNational Strawberry Month - Jim Grabowski of Well Pict Berries Brings Us the Joy of StrawberriesBeautiful spring weather is all around and we hope that is bringing you joy. And there is no greater joy of spring than the arrival of one of the fruits that have been most often cited by people as the most joyous of all fruits and veggies—strawberries! May is National Strawberry Month and so this week we have a very special guest who has to be one of the world’s leading experts on the fruit. Jim Grabowski has been the director of marketing for one of the most successful strawberry growers in the world for over 33 years! Well...2022-05-2244 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesAsian Heritage Month: Ron Inatomi Tells Us About the Significant Contributions Japanese Americans Made To American AgricultureMay is Asian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This week we have a very special guest on the show that will tell us about the substantial contribution that Japanese Americans made to American agriculture, especially on the West Coast, from California through Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Ron Inatomi is a third-generation (Sansei) Japanese American who has been working in the produce industry for over 40 years. In our discussion with him, we will learn how industrious the first- and second-generation Japanese Americans were and how they rose to be some of the largest growers of fruits and vegetables in the U...2022-05-1558 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesWhere Does Your Food Come From? Chip Carter Talks About the Special People Who Bring It to YouChip Carter is a natural-born storyteller. And he’s made a profession of it for over 30 years. He worked as a journalist for several prominent national newspapers before he decided to return to his farming roots and begin to tell stories about America’s farmers. At that point, he launched the Southeast Produce Weekly, a publication and Website that covered news about fresh produce in that region. Building on the success of that, he created a new television show called “Where the Food Comes From” which is about… well, the name speaks for itself! Season one is just finishing up and sea...2022-05-0846 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesThe Stars of Cinco de Mayo! Avocados, Cilantro, and Limes S03-E01Welcome to a new season of the Produce Buzzers Podcast. We are delighted that the first episode of season three celebrates the tastes and flavors of Cinco de Mayo. In this episode, you will learn about the history of the celebration and why it is more popular in the United States than in Mexico. But that is just an excuse for us to talk about the fruit and veggie stars of Cinco de Mayo—avocados, cilantro, and limes! Tune in to find out how to become an “avocado whisperer!”2022-05-011h 14
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesMix It Up With Leafy Greens! And a Very Special Onion Is Here. Season Two Bonus SegmentThis week we have another bonus segment from season two of the series to keep you fed until season three starts next week. It's short, so it’s just a snack. But we think it will satisfy your hunger for all things fruit and veggie. In this segment, Theresa is going to tell us about the amazing nutritional value of leafy greens and how eating them every day can heart-attack-proof you. And after that, you will learn all about a very special onion that is harvested every year in April. But since it is more delicate than other onions, th...2022-04-2216 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesThe Miraculous and Delicious Cauliflower! Season Two Bonus SegmentSeason two of our podcast has concluded and we are excited to announce that season three will begin at the end of April. Make sure you subscribe so you can get notifications of the new episodes. We have some interesting and delicious episodes planned for next season. But in the meantime, enjoy this bonus segment from season two that wound up on the “cutting board.” Not the “cutting floor” as we say in the film business, but the “cutting board” as we say as avid fruit and veggie lovers. In this segment, Theresa tells us all about the miraculous and deliciou...2022-04-1728 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesPower of Produce: A Consumer Survey And What Is Your State's Official Fruit?Have you ever ordered fresh produce online for delivery or pickup? How do you feel about letting someone else pick out your fruits and veggies? The Produce Buzzers examine a recent survey of consumers about their fresh produce buying preferences. And play along with the Produce Buzzers as they play guess the official fruits of each U.S. State. 2022-04-101h 00
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesThe Joy of Berries! Steve Trede Tells Us About Delicious Driscoll's BerriesWhat is more joyful than eating delicious, sweet strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries? And they are so good for your health. This week’s guest on the Produce Buzzers Podcast has been selling and marketing berries for many years. Steve Trede works for Driscoll’s Berries, a pioneer in the development of some of the most delicious berries in the world. Listen today to learn all about berries and how they are grown and new varieties are developed. It’s a long labor of love by these farmers to bring you these delicious, healthy treats.2022-04-0246 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesThe Women Who Fear No Fruit! Alex Jackson Tells the Story of the 60-year Success of Frieda's Specialty ProduceAlex Jackson is the granddaughter of Frieda Caplan, the founder of Frieda's Specialty Produce. Frieda was a pioneer in the fresh produce industry and was responsible for bringing to your table some fruits and veggies that were virtually unknown in the U.S. before she had the vision and savvy to import them. Her story is a fascinating one you are going to want to stick around to hear it. And Alex will tell us about what it is like to be a third-generation executive in one of the most successful women-owned and managed companies in the U.S...2022-03-2551 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesKnow, Feel, and Do! Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak Shares Three Steps to Love Healthy Eating HabitsYou know eating fruits and vegetables is good for your health. But is it a chore to do so or a pleasure? Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak joins the Produce Buzzers to talk about her mission to make what your mother preached to you when you were a kid, “Eat Your Veggies!” a delightful habit you will crave. As president and CEO of the Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH), Wendy has dramatically changed the conversation about how to get people to eat more fruits and vegetables. With their “Have A Plant®” campaign they are convincing a new generation that eating fruits an...2022-03-181h 01
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesHow Mike Turned Cabbage Into a 1966 GTO And Won Over the Love of His LifeCabbage is the veggie star of St. Patrick's Day. Have you ever heard the word cabbage used as a slang term for money? It may have slipped out of fashion in the slang use of today. But our cousin, Mike Stepp, a guest on the podcast at the end of February to talk about his long-time work growing apples, related a story about turning cabbage, the veggie, into cabbage the money to buy a 1966 Pontiac GTO, one of the most coveted sports cars in the sixties. Enjoy this bonus segment of our episode celebrating cabbage.2022-03-1607 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesGet Cabbaged! And A Nut For Your Brain. PB Podcast S02:E09This week we feature a cruciferous vegetable that is the star veggie of St. Patrick's Day alongside corn beef. Cabbage is a very cost-effective way to get the vitamins and minerals you need to stay healthy. And then we will tell you about some very special nuts, no not us Produce Buzzers. These nuts get their name from a part of the brain, which is appropriate since they are especially good for your brain.2022-03-1157 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesAll About Apples! Veteran Apple Grower Mike Stepp Tells Us About Apple VarietiesHow are all the different varieties of apples created? In this week’s episode, we are joined by our cousin, Mike Stepp, owner of Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in North Carolina. His “you-pick” apple farm is one of the top agrotourism destinations in the country. Thousands of people come from miles around every year to pick their own apples and learn about life on a farm. Mike has been growing apples all his life and he will tell us about how they are grown and all about different varieties of apples.2022-02-2556 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesDr. James Hebert Top Expert on Inflammation: Fruits & Veggies Are a Powerful Weapon Against Inflammation!Our guest today is Dr. James Hebert, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina. Dr. Hebert has studied and researched for years how what we eat affects our health. He is arguably the world’s foremost expert on inflammation and especially on how what we eat can contribute to increasing or decreasing inflammation in our bodies. We are going to ask him what he has learned from decades of research on the subject and specifically how eating more fresh fruits and vegetables is key in fighting it.2022-02-181h 05
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesSpecial Valentine's Day Episode: Some Surprising Fruits of Love! PB Podcast S02:E06In this episode, the Produce Buzzers tell us about fruits and veggies that have inspired romantic love and have been thought to be aphrodisiacs. Yes, we will talk about strawberries, but some of them will surprise you and might make you giggle. But fair warning, don't try to replace your gift of flowers and chocolate-covered strawberries this Valentine's Day with them. You might find your love rejected.2022-02-1139 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesCitrus: Wonderful Winter Treats to Drive Away the Gloomy Cold! PB Podcast S02:E05Winter can be a gloomy time, but probably one of the few things that is really awesome about wintertime is the marvelous variety of delicious citrus fruits that are in season, plentiful and inexpensive. The winter months and into early spring is the absolute best time for citrus fruits. So today on the Produce Buzzers Podcast, Rick is going to tell us all about winter citrus and what to know as you look for them in the next few months. Learn all about grapefruit, oranges, tangerines, clementines, and others. And have you ever heard of the orange so nice...2022-02-0439 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesPB Podcast S02:E04 A Cardiologist's Epiphany: "I Was Practicing Sick Care Not Health Care"Dr. Brian Asbill, a practicing cardiologist, and the world’s first board-certified lifestyle medicine physician joins the Produce Buzzers podcast to explain how eating more fresh fruits and vegetables and adopting a plant-based diet can help you not only become healthy, but healthy and whole both physically and mentally. After twenty years as a cardiologist, our featured guest today took a big turn in his career when he had what he calls an “epiphany.” He came to realize at that time he had not been practicing “health care” but instead “sick care.” And he took some dramatic steps to change that.2022-01-281h 01
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesPB Podcast S02:E03 A Produce Expert Reveals the Trendiest Fruits and Veggies!Robert Schueller may be the world’s foremost expert on exotic fruits and vegetables. As the Director of Public Relations for Melissa’s World Variety Produce, one of the largest purveyors of fruits and vegetables from all around the world, he knows about thousands of varieties of fresh produce. He joins the Produce Buzzers to talk about a few fruits and veggies that will trend in 2022. Learn about pink pineapples, graffiti eggplant, dragonfruit, and a few other delicious foods you may not have heard of before.2022-01-2154 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesPB Podcast S02:E02 National Pizza Week! Delicious Fruit and Veggie Toppings.In this episode, the Produce Buzzers celebrate National Pizza Week! Why talk about pizza on a show about fresh fruits and veggies! Why of course—the fabulous fruit and veggie toppings that adorn them! That is the best part of any pizza. The crust, sauce, and cheese are just a flavorful delivery system for delicious fruit and veggies! But we will also talk about some of the best ways to make pizza doughs, to cook pizza, and some veggie crusts that can serve as an alternative to wheat crusts.2022-01-1555 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesPB Podcast S02:E01 National Bean Day!Today we celebrate the mighty bean! Because it is National Bean Day in the United States. Beans have been a staple of the human diet for many thousands of years. Learn about all their tremendous health benefits and get a couple of delicious recipes. And hear the strange story of the famous Greek mathematician and philosopher, Pythagoras, who was deathly afraid of beans!2022-01-0649 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesPB Special Christmas Bonus: The Great Fruit Cake Contest Scandal!Why are fruit cakes so maligned as Christmas gifts? Maybe because they didn't have Aunt Midge's recipe! Which was the victim of the Great Fruit Cake Scandal!2021-12-2113 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesPB Podcast S01:E13 Our Special Christmas Episode - Fruitful Stocking StuffersHappy Holidays everyone! Welcome to our special Christmas episode. What the heck are “sugar plums?” Are they real fruit? How many pear trees with partridges will your true love send you on the 12 Days of Christmas? And the fruitful tradition of stocking stuffers including oranges and walnuts!2021-12-181h 03
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesPB Podcast S01:E12 "Little Tomatoes" or Tomatillos & Another Mystery Fruit and Veggie Quiz ChallengeOn this week's podcast, we focus on a little veggie that you may not be too aware of, but chances are you have eaten them at one time or another. And we play another Mystery Fruit or Veggie Quiz Challenge. Play along and see if you can guess what it is.2021-12-1135 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesPB Podcast S01:E11 A New Year's Day Tradition - Collard Greens!In this episode we talk about a Southern New Year's traditional meal featuring collard greens and black-eyed peas. And a special guest, our beautiful cousin Colette Worley, joins us to give her collard greens recipe passed down from our grandmother. And she will tell you about our family’s restaurants that always featured delicious vegetable dishes. And of course, we will tell you all about collard greens, how they are grown, their origin, and nutritional benefits.2021-12-0441 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesPB Podcast S01:E10 Leeks & Pomegranates!In this episode, Theresa Nolan tells you all about Leeks, a delicious winter veggie with tremendous health benefits. And Rick Stepp tells us all about Pomegranates since November is National Pomegranate Month and they are fully in season.2021-11-2656 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesPB Podcast S01:E09 Our Special Thanksgiving EpisodeThis episode is our Thanksgiving special episode in which we will feature some of the most popular Thanksgiving fruits and veggies, including Brussels sprouts and cranberries. Plus, we will once again play the Mystery Fruit or Veggies Quiz Challenge. Play along with our Produce Buzzers and see if you can guess what it is. 2021-11-181h 00
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesPB Podcast S01:E08 Kiwifruit, Aronia Berries, and a Ratatouille RecipeIn this episode, the Produce Buzzers tell us all about kiwifruit and share a delicious recipe for Ratatouille, the famous French stew chock full of veggies! And have you ever heard of "Aronia Berries?" They are an antioxidant powerhouse with 12 times that of blueberries!2021-11-1256 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesPB Podcast S01:E07 Cruciferous Veggies and Lion's Mane Mushrooms. And Are you a Super Taster?!In this episode, the Produce Buzzers tell you about cruciferous veggies and tell you how to grow and use Lion’s Mane mushrooms. And are you a Super Taster?! Find out what that is and if you are one. And we play another round of the Mystery fruit of veggie quiz. Stay tuned and play along to see if you can guess today’s mystery fruit or veggie.2021-11-0442 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesPB Podcast S01:E06 It's Halloween! So It's Pumpkins! Also, Loss of Diversification in Fruits and VeggiesIn this episode, the Produce Buzzers discuss the loss of diversification in fruits and veggies. And it's Halloween, so, of course, It's Pumpkins!2021-10-2847 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesPB Podcast S01:E05 Winter Squash and Mystery Fruit of Veggie QuizIn this episode, the Produce Buzzers tell you about some winter squashes. And play along with them in the Mystery Fruit or Veggie Quiz Challenge. Can you guess today's featured fruit or veggie?2021-10-1845 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesPB Podcast S01:E04 Your Guacamole Personality! Figs and Pawpaws!Answer a few questions to determine what kind of guacamole suits your personality. And all you need to know about figs! And what the heck are pawpaws?!2021-10-0542 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesProduce Buzzers Podcast: S01:E03 Mangoes and Pea Tendrils!The Produce Buzzers tell us all about mangoes, pea tendrils, and pea shoots. Then they play a round of the Mystery Fruit or Veggie Quiz Challenge. Come play along and see if you can guess the right answers!2021-09-0935 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesProduce Buzzers Podcast: S01:E02 Blueberries and Mushrooms!In this episode, the Produce Buzzers celebrate a very special birthday with someone who loves fresh fruits and veggies. Then they will tell you all about blueberries and mushrooms. And, as usual, you will be assaulted with a bad pun!2021-09-0128 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesProduce Buzzers Podcast S01:E01 - Introducing the Produce Buzzers PodcastIn the first episode of Produce Buzzers, you will meet the Produce Buzzers and learn why they are uniquely qualified to tell you about fresh fruits and veggies. Celebrate a triple fruit and vegetable commemoration. Learn about strawberries, peaches, and some exciting new grape varieties. And play along with the Produce Buzzers in the 'Mystery Fruit or Veggies Quiz Challenge!"2021-08-3048 min
Produce Buzzers - A Podcast for Lovers of Fresh Fruits and VeggiesProduce Buzzers Podcast TeaserProduce Buzzers is a new podcast with the goal of inspiring people to eat more fresh fruit and veggies. Part informative radio show, part trivia game show, and part funny talk show, it will put a smile on your face while educating you about fresh produce. Join Theresa Nolan, Edwin Stepp, Rick Stepp and Cynthia Benedetto as they share their vast knowledge about fresh fruits and veggies. They will also be joined by other fresh produce experts to bring you everything you wanted to know about fresh produce. Be fruitful and veg out!2021-08-3003 min