The Packer Podcast
Business & Finance
About
What’s the fresh produce industry talking about now? Tune into The Packer Podcast to find out. Discussions dive into the challenges, opportunities and what’s next for stakeholders across the fresh produce supply chain.
Episodes
- John Hollay on Why the 21st-Century Food System Cannot Be Saddled With 1980s Labor Policies
NCAE President and CEO John Hollay explains the importance of the H-2A program for the food system, arguing that growers need permanent legislative solutions from Congress instead of relying on regulatory changes.
- Why Hispanic Consumers are the Future Engine of Produce Growth
Ruth Villalonga discusses the growth of the Hispanic consumer market in the produce industry. She highlights how retailers can engage this demographic through authentic storytelling and cultural connection.
- The Packer Podcast: Kam Quarles on the Path Toward Economic Recovery
Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council, explains the ongoing efforts to create a more resilient Farm Bill. He emphasizes the necessity of targeted relief for the future of specialty crops and American growers.
- The Packer Podcast: South Mill Champs' Lewis Macleod on Why Mushroom Automation is No Longer Optional
Lewis Macleod, CEO of South Mill Champs, explains how robotics and AI are modernizing North American mushroom farming, addressing challenges like labor costs and infrastructure gaps to create a high-tech, 24/7 operation.
- The Packer Podcast: Tamara Muruetagoiena on Building a Unified Roadmap for Sustainability for Fresh Produce
Tamara Muruetagoiena, VP of Sustainability for the International Fresh Produce Association, explains the development of a strategic path to standardize metrics and streamline sustainability efforts within the global fresh produce supply ch…
- The Packer Podcast: How Molly Pop Harnesses Nostalgia for Modern Marketing
John Cymbal, co-founder and chief marketing officer for Molly’s Grape & Citrus Co., discusses the brand's strategy of moving away from a commodity mindset towards a CPG approach to engage consumers.
- Jonna Parker on Why the Industry Needs to Focus on Produce Pounds Not Just Dollars
Jonna Parker, VP of Circana's fresh foods group, believes the fresh produce industry can achieve record dollar growth by 2026, but advocates for a shift from a commodity focus to data-driven consumer insights.
- The Packer Podcast: Peter O'Driscoll on EFI's Bold Stakeholder Strategy to Unlock Systems Change
Peter O'Driscoll, executive director of the Equitable Food Initiative, explains how the organization builds trust and collaboration among stakeholders to achieve its goals.
- The Packer Podcast: Counting Down The Packer Podcast's Top 5 Moments Of 2025
The Packer Podcast presents its Top 5 Moments of 2025, featuring entertaining answers from the "fresh take" segment.
- Uber's Hashim Amin on the Company's Unique Value Proposition
Hashim Amin, head of grocery and retail for North America at Uber, explains how the company utilizes its platform for convenience and on-demand services, and how its marketplace competes with Amazon.
- The Packer Podcast: Get a Sneak Peek of What's New at the East Coast Produce Expo
Heather Sterrett, director of events and expos with Farm Journal, provides a preview of the upcoming East Coast Produce Expo, highlighting plans for attendees.
- The Packer Podcast: Steve Mantle on How to Make Data Actionable for Growers
Steve Mantle, founder and CEO of innov8.ag, discusses strategies for growers to manage agricultural complexity, adopt technology, and utilize actionable data for operational improvements.
- The Packer Podcast: Anne-Marie Roerink on the Surprising Shifts in Produce Purchasing
Anne-Marie Roerink, president of 210 Analytics, details surprising shifts in produce purchasing, noting that Millennials and Gen Z are increasing fruit consumption while vegetable sales decrease.
- The Packer Podcast: Building Fresh Produce Brand Awareness with Tara Murray
Tara Murray, vice president of marketing for Fresh Innovations and Yo Quiero Brands, shares insights on how brands can address consumer trends in flavor and snacking, highlighting opportunities for innovation and disruption within the indu…
- Ron Lemaire on Canada's Unique Role in Sustainability, Global Trade
Ron Lemaire, president of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, talks about the importance of trade agreements for the fresh produce sector. He also touches on shifting Canadian consumer mindsets and Canada's position in global trade…
- The Packer Podcast: Kevin Hamilton on Driving Desire when Marketing Blueberries
Kevin Hamilton, Vice President, Global Marketing and Communications at the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, explains his strategy for marketing blueberries by emphasizing their differentiators and connecting health benefits with consumer e…
- The Packer Podcast: How Technology Leads the Future of Labor Tracking
Nico Cabral, director of marketing for FieldClock, explains how technology in labor tracking can lead to significant efficiency gains and improve a farm's financial performance.
- Tip of the Iceberg: How One Packer Makes an Impact, Helps Food Banks
Randy Asadoor, CEO of Keystone Packing, and Sabrina Thakkar, director of the California Association of Food Banks
- Tip Of The Iceberg: Previewing This Year's Farmworker of the Year Awards
LeAnne Ruzzamenti of Equitable Food Initiative previews the Farmworker of the Year Awards, emphasizing the vital role farmworkers play in the fresh produce sector and the significance of recognizing their contributions.
- Tip of The Iceberg: A Look At The Future of 2D Barcodes
IGA CEO John Ross details his company's plan to adopt 2D barcodes, highlighting the benefits for the fresh produce industry.
- Tip Of The Iceberg: New Innovations In Produce Shipping
Matthew Aronson, chief revenue officer at Verdant Technologies, explains how 1-MCP is used to enhance produce quality for retailers and decrease reliance on ice during shipping.
- How to Prepare for FSMA 204
Lucelena Angarita, director of food supply chain visibility at GS1 US, advises fresh produce businesses to begin preparations for the Food Traceability Final Rule, effective January 20, 2026.
- Tip Of The Iceberg: Sustainability Efforts In The Irrigation Industry
Mike Hemman, SVP of Netafilm's North America Division, details how his company incorporates recycling into its drip irrigation products, showcasing innovative sustainability practices.
- Tip of The Iceberg: Recognizing the importance of farmworkers
Brianna Shales and LeAnne Ruzzamenti discuss ways to celebrate farmworkers and their vital role in agriculture.
- Tip Of The Iceberg: Use Social Media To Teach Others About Your Farm
Shay Myers, CEO of Owyhee Produce and known as @shayfarmkid, explains how he utilizes social media to discuss agriculture. He emphasizes the significance of appearing on camera and connecting with audiences.
- Tip of The Iceberg: The Key Role Fresh Produce Plays for Food Banks
Leslie Gordon, president and CEO of the Food Bank for New York City, explains the significant contribution of the fresh produce industry to food banks.
- Tip Of The Iceberg: What you Can Learn at GOPEX 2025
Darren Seifer, an industry advisor for Circana, previews his GOPEX 2025 presentation. The discussion focuses on the current organic produce shopper and the factors influencing their loyalty.
- Tip of The Iceberg: The Future of Plastics in The Fresh Produce Industry
Jeana Cadby of Western Growers discusses the fresh produce industry's progress with sustainable packaging, including a working group addressing changing government and retailer requirements.
- Tip of The Iceberg: Using Embedded Irrigation Sensors to Better Understand Plant Health
Michael Santiago, CEO of FloraPulse, explains how their embedded irrigation sensors provide growers with insights into plant health throughout the growing season.
- Tip of The Iceberg: AI's Role in The Future of The Produce Industry
Steve Statler, CMO and Head of Food Safety at Wiliot, explains how artificial intelligence and machine learning can benefit the produce industry, particularly in enhancing traceability.
- Tip of the Iceberg: Ways Retailers Can Leverage Consumer Curiosity With Produce
Cristie Mather, VP of Food at Curious Plot, shares findings from the 2024 Consumer Curiosity Report. The discussion focuses on how retailers can utilize this information to discover and pursue new opportunities related to consumer interest…
- Tip of the Iceberg: How Technology and Data Transform Irrigation Practices
James Nichols, president of HotSpot Ag, explains how data and innovative technology enable targeted water deployment for agricultural needs, drawing on his experience as a third-generation pistachio grower.
- Tip of The Iceberg: What to know about cybersecurity with Greg Gatzke
Greg Gatzke, CEO of Zag Technical Services, appeared on The Packer Podcast to discuss the vulnerability of the agriculture sector to cyber attacks and to offer advice on preparedness for business owners.
- Tip of the Iceberg S3 E26: Pam Marrone on Biocontrols
In S3 E26 of The Packer Podcast, Pam Marrone discusses biocontrols. The episode is part of Season 3.
- How do you know if you’re on the right track with sustainability?
Stephanie Teclaw and LeAnne Ruzzamenti discuss how a sustainability course from Equitable Food Initiative helped RPE analyze its sustainability practices and foster a supportive company culture.
- Tip of the Iceberg: Chris Pawelski & The Importance of Advocacy
Chris Pawelski, a fourth-generation farmer, returns to The Packer Podcast to discuss the significance of advocacy and provide guidance for growers interested in getting involved.
- The benefits of Equitable Food Initiative certification
Amalia Zimmerman-Lommel and LeAnne Ruzzamenti discuss the advantages of Equitable Food Initiative certification, sharing insights from GoodFarms' decade of experience with the program.
- Discussing the Intersection of Food Safety and Sustainability
Joelle Mosso from Western Growers spoke with host Christina Herrick about the challenges of meeting both food safety and sustainability requirements in the fresh produce industry.
- How Gene Editing Hopes to Boost Produce Consumption
Christina Herrick speaks with Tom Adams, CEO of Pairwise, about how gene editing and CRISPR technology can transform plants and impact the future of produce consumption.
- What makes Vidalia onions so special?
Delbert Bland, founder of Bland Farms and a Vidalia Onion Hall of Fame inductee, talks with Christina Herrick about Vidalia onions. He shares his favorite preparation method and discusses the importance of a federal marketing order.
- Highlights from a career in the pear industry
Kevin Moffitt, president and CEO of Pear Bureau Northwest, reflects on his 35-year career before his retirement. He shares favorite pears and discusses the challenges of marketing the fruit with Christina Herrick.
- Is the honeybee crisis really over?
Danielle Downey, executive director of Project Apis m., spoke with The Packer's Christina Herrick about the current state of the honeybee industry, including hive growth and persistent challenges. The discussion highlighted the essential r…
- The challenges and opportunities for agriculture in California
A.G. Kawamura, former California Department of Food and Agriculture secretary, spoke with The Packer's Christina Herrick at the Sustainable Produce Summit. They discussed the future direction of agriculture in California and changes observ…
- The intersection of technology and food safety
In this episode, Frank Yiannas and Steve Statler discuss the role of technology in improving efficiency for the produce industry in preparation for the Food Traceability Final Rule.
- Introducing an apple variety in a crowded market
Chris Sandwick, director of marketing at Hess Bros. Fruit, discusses the introduction of the Wild Twist apple and the difficulties of marketing new apple varieties in a crowded marketplace.
- Why we need to talk about farmers' mental health
Christina Herrick interviews Chris Pawelski, a farmer and advocate, discussing the difficulties of modern farming and its relationship with mental health.
- Reflecting on a career in the apple industry
Todd Fryhover, president of the Washington Apple Commission, reflects on his 18-year career and the future direction of the apple industry with Christina Herrick.
- Creating a more sustainable company
Maisie Ganzler, author and strategic advisor, and LeAnne Ruzzamenti, director at Equitable Food Initiative, discuss initiating a company sustainability plan.
- West Coast Produce Expo and Sustainable Produce Summit’s can't miss sessions, receptions and more
This episode previews the West Coast Produce Expo and Sustainable Produce Summit, highlighting important educational sessions and events. Information is indexed from public RSS feeds.
- The impact of postharvest research on produce quality and flavor
Elizabeth Mitcham, Ph.D., joins Christina Herrick to discuss innovations in postharvest technology, challenges in delivering fresh produce, and the future of postharvest research. The podcast is sponsored by AgroFresh.