The Produce Buzzers Podcast

Avocados have gone from a once-in-a-while specialty item to a full-blown cultural phenomenon. From toast to tacos, smoothies to sushi rolls, consumers just can’t seem to get enough of this creamy green superfruit. But even in a category as popular as avocados, innovation never stops. This week, we’re diving into the future of avocados with Gary Caloroso, Regional Business Development Director of The Giumarra Companies, one of the largest shippers of avocados in the U.S. He joins us to talk about an exciting newer avocado variety called GEM—an avocado that’s generating a lot of buzz for its flavor, appearance, growing advantages, and potential to complement the dominant Hass variety. We’ll explore what makes the GEM avocado unique, how consumers are responding to it, and why new avocado varieties matter in a fast-growing category where demand continues to soar year after year. Along the way, we’ll also talk about avocado trends, merchandising, nutrition, sustainability, and where the avocado industry may be headed in the future.

Hatch Chili Season is Here! What makes Hatch chili peppers so delicious and sought after? It’s the unique microclimate where they grow. They are named for the tiny town of Hatch, New Mexico, which sits at a towering elevation. It’s no wonder they’ve risen to such great heights in the culinary world. This week, we’re joined once again by “The Produce Expert,” Robert Schueller, who will tell us all about these peppers with a cult following. Robert is the Director of Public Relations at Melissa’s Produce, the largest distributor of specialty produce in the United States. Robert has been featured everywhere from national TV segments to major newspapers, bringing insight, passion, and a deep understanding of the produce industry to audiences across the country. He’s also the author of several books about fresh fruits and vegetables, making him not just a spokesperson for Melissa’s but a true educator and advocate for eating seasonally and adventurously. In this episode, Robert will also tell us about the delicious new varieties of grapes and melons that are in season right now. Tune in to hear about the hottest and sweetest fruits and veggies of the season!

Fresh produce has always been at the heart of the organic movement. Long before organic snack bars, cereals, and frozen entrées filled store shelves, it was organic apples, carrots, greens, and berries that helped build consumer trust in the idea that food could be grown differently—more thoughtfully, more sustainably, and with greater care for the land and the people who work it. Today, organic fresh fruits and vegetables continue to be one of the strongest and most visible segments in the entire organic marketplace. From the produce aisle to farmers markets to community-supported agriculture, fresh organic produce is often the first—and sometimes the most meaningful—connection consumers have with organic food. To help us unpack what’s happening in the organic produce world, we talk this week to Matt Landi, Vice President of Industry Relations for the Organic Trade Association. The OTA represents the organic industry across the supply chain—from growers and shippers to retailers, brands, and service providers—and plays a major role in policy, advocacy, and education around organic food in the United States.