The Produce Industry Podcast w/ Patrick Kelly

How did a quiet Quaker family from North Carolina - devout, disciplined, and disinclined to dance - go on to revolutionize the fruit industry of the American West? Who were the Lewellings, and how did their deep-rooted values, obsession with grafting, and fierce opposition to slavery shape the orchards of Oregon, the nurseries of Iowa, and the future of American agriculture? Join John and Patrick as they peel back the layers of one of the most extraordinary and overlooked sagas in American history. From humble beginnings in the red clay of the Carolinas to pioneering nurseries on the frontier, the Lewellings weren’t just planting trees - they were planting legacy. But what made Henderson Lewelling leave it all behind, again and again, to chase something even bigger? In this opening episode of a sweeping multi-part series, we hear about the early years of a family whose grafting knives and moral convictions cut through the American frontier and helped grow an empire of apples, pears, peaches, and cherries. ---------- In Sponsorship with Cornell University: Dyson Cornell SC Johnson College of Business ----------- Join the History of Fresh Produce Club [https://app.theproduceindustrypodcast.com/access/] 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 [https://historyoffreshproduce.substack.com/] 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 [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdEwEuldKWgzqLPJQDPYfwFrUq6QY7RfwPiZubYwSNDpqKgYA/viewform] and get ready to walk through the past in style. ----------- Instagram, TikTok, Threads: @historyoffreshproduce Email: historyoffreshproduce@gmail.com [historyoffreshproduce@gmail.com]

In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast, host Patrick Kelly welcomes Amanda Nigg, founder of Farm Fit, for an inspiring conversation on the powerful link between nutrition, fitness, and everyday life. Amanda shares her personal journey and how she’s helping farmers, ag professionals, and everyday folks take control of their health—starting with what’s on their plate. From the role of fresh produce in building strength and endurance to how diet impacts mindset and energy levels, this episode dives into why what you eat truly matters.

This week on Fresh From The Field Fridays Ross and Dan are reportin live from the Organic Produce Summit 2025 in Monterey California! - A short and fresh look at what’s happening in organics this week and a recap of the Lakeside Organic Gardens Farm Tour in Watsonville.

This week on the Global Fresh Series, we're diving into the dynamic world of private label programs—and we’re taking you straight to the heart of Tuscany, Italy. Our guest is a seasoned global affairs executive and passionate good food ambassador with over 15 years of international experience connecting the dots between retailers, olive oil suppliers, and third-party certifiers. Tune in as we explore what makes private labels thrive, the behind-the-scenes standards that matter, and why the future of fresh, certified products might just begin in an olive grove. First Class Sponsorship: Peak of the Market: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://peakofthemarket.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://https//peakofthemarket.com/%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0]

In the shadow of revolution, a campaign of quiet devastation unfolded. While Washington’s Continental Army fought British redcoats along the eastern seaboard, a very different war was being waged in the lush valleys of upstate New York. It was not a war for cities or forts but for orchards, granaries, and the very soil beneath Seneca feet. Join John and Patrick as they unearth the harrowing truth behind the Sullivan Expedition - a scorched-earth campaign ordered by George Washington to annihilate the agricultural heartland of the Iroquois Confederacy. With orders to destroy not only villages, but entire food systems, Sullivan’s army marched north to break the back of Indigenous resistance. What followed was less a battle than a deliberate erasure: orchards axed, cornfields torched, entire towns razed in cheerful efficiency. From the diplomatic genius and agricultural brilliance of the Seneca people to the haunting final stand at Genesee Castle, this is the story of America’s first total war - a war not just against a people, but against their ability to survive. ---------- In Sponsorship with Cornell University: Dyson Cornell SC Johnson College of Business ----------- Join the History of Fresh Produce Club [https://app.theproduceindustrypodcast.com/access/] 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 [https://historyoffreshproduce.substack.com/] 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 [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdEwEuldKWgzqLPJQDPYfwFrUq6QY7RfwPiZubYwSNDpqKgYA/viewform] and get ready to walk through the past in style. ----------- Instagram, TikTok, Threads: @historyoffreshproduce Email: historyoffreshproduce@gmail.com [historyoffreshproduce@gmail.com]