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PODCAST

Fresh From the Field Fridays

Dan "The Produce Man" Avakian

Welcome to Fresh From The Field Fridays with Dan "The Produce Man" Avakian! Tune in weekly for your essential download on supply trends, category updates, brand awareness, and what"s hot in the market. Broadcasting live from the vibrant San Francisco Bay of California, we delve into every aspect of the produce and supply chain industry. Join us each week for insightful discussions, expert interviews, and the freshest updates to keep you ahead of the curve in the produce world. Don"t miss out on the

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All Episodes

28:24

🎃 FROM PORCH TO PLATE! PUMPKINS YOU NEVER KNEW YOU...

Fresh From the Field Fridays ·

2026/10/09

This week on Fresh From the Field Fridays with Dan the Produce Man!All those beautiful pumpkins, gourds, and squashes decorating your front porch, home, or office. Did you know that many of them are not only edible, but absolutely delicious?Dan the Produce Man shares some of his favorite edible pumpkin and squash varieties, including some you probably never knew you could eat! And boy, are they tasty!It's all right here on Fresh From the Field Fridays, from the Produce Industry Network, powered by

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23:15

RARE APPLES, RED COMICE PEARS & A TASTE OF FALL!

Fresh From the Field Fridays ·

2026/10/02

This week on Fresh From the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man takes a look at beautiful Red Comice pears from Medford, Oregon, the ever-tasty heirloom Spitzenberg apple, Lucy Glow and Lucy Rose apples, Wickson crab apples, and Listada eggplant. Plus, Dan gives us a brief report on some of the summer fruit that’s still hanging on and the fall fruit that’s just beginning to arrive.It’s all right here on Fresh From the Field Fridays, brought to you by the Produce Industry Network, powered by AgLife

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26:47

Wine Grapes in Decline, Rare Apples, Rambutan &...

Fresh From the Field Fridays ·

2026/09/25

This week on Fresh From the Field Fridays with Dan the Produce Man, Dan takes a look at the decline in California wine grape acreage and wine consumption. Then, we get into some locally grown heirloom and classic apple varieties, including Brushy Mountain Limbertwig, Jonathan, Golden Delicious, and Jonagold, plus how the Jonagold apple was created. We’ll also take a quick look at some rambutan, and then Dan visits with Mike LaRocco at Fresh Origins for a look at some exciting new microgreens

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26:54

Dandelion Greens, Chocolate Persimmons & the Great...

Fresh From the Field Fridays ·

2026/09/18

This week on Fresh From the Field Fridays from the Produce Industry Network, Dan the Produce Man features fresh dandelion greens. They’re incredibly nutritious, and Dan shows you how to pick the best bunches and put them to work in your culinary creations.We’ve also got Fall Fiesta pluots, Betty Ann plums, and shallots. Why are some shallots puffy and soft, with loose, dried-out rings, while others are nice and firm? We’ve got the scoop.Plus, what happens to all that beautiful produce on the table

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23:54

From Kingsburg Plums to Coachella Dates: California’s...

Fresh From the Field Fridays ·

2026/09/11

This week on Fresh From the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man features some exciting new plum varieties from Kingsburg Orchards, bred specifically for late summer and fall.And it’s date harvest season! From the Coachella Valley all the way down toward the Mexican border, Southern California’s date harvest is underway. Dan visits Mecca Date Farm in Mecca, California, and catches up with farmer Eddie Lopez to talk dates, the harvest, and what’s happening on the farm right now.It’s all right here on

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25:26

The Pear, the Monk & Some Seriously Groovy Produce

Fresh From the Field Fridays ·

2026/09/04

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, it’s Labor Day weekend! And while everyone else is talking about watermelons, corn, and barbecue, Dan the Produce Man is sharing some groovy goodies, from the produce department in your grocery store to some rarities at the fruit stand.We kick things off with Asian pears, along with an old Chinese tale about a pear farmer and a Taoist monk that has a little lesson tucked inside.Then we get into Golden Russet apples, an old-world heirloom variety. From

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20:54

Right from the Orchard! 50 Years of Frog Hollow Farm

Fresh From the Field Fridays ·

2026/08/28

This week on Fresh From the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man is joined by Farmer Al Courchesne of Frog Hollow Farm, coming to you right from a pluot orchard in Brentwood, California!Al is celebrating 50 years of farming at Frog Hollow Farm, and he and Dan dig into how the farm has evolved over the decades. You'll hear how Frog Hollow grows its incredible fruit organically and regeneratively, makes its own compost, and gets that tree-ripened fruit from the orchard to market.They also talk about how

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29:36

These Mid-August Produce Finds Are Incredible!

Fresh From the Field Fridays ·

2026/08/21

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man has a table filled with mid-August produce goodies!We start with two heirloom apples, Burgundy and Strawberry Chenango, then dive into avocados with some fun facts, varietal history, and tips on how to select the perfect one.Plus, Blue Lake green beans, Sugar Kiss melons, Atlantis cantaloupes, dry-farmed Early Girl tomatoes, Niabell grapes, and San Marzano tomatoes!That’s right, it’s a mid-August produce-packed podcast, brought to you by

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30:11

Fresh Produce Changing Lives: Inside Brighter Bites

Fresh From the Field Fridays ·

2026/08/14

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man is joined by Michelle McCarty of Brighter Bites, a nonprofit organization working to get more fresh fruits and vegetables into the hands, homes, and stomachs of kids and families across the country.Brighter Bites partners with schools, communities, food banks, growers, distributors, and others in the produce industry to provide families with fresh produce at no cost. But they don't stop there. They also provide nutrition education,

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29:34

What’s the Rolls Royce of Figs? Plus Incredible...

Fresh From the Field Fridays ·

2026/08/07

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man shares some incredible produce finds for the beginning of August!We start off with organically grown cranberry beans, Gravenstein apples, and the beautiful Pink Pearl apple. Find out which fig variety Dan calls the "Rolls Royce of figs!"Plus, Piel de Sapo melons, Arctic white nectarine varieties, Fantasia nectarines, green tomatoes, and cucumbers straight from Dan's garden, along with a great cucumber gardening tip and a surprising use

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27:01

Food Safety or Fear? Separating Fact from Fiction on...

Fresh From the Field Fridays ·

2026/07/31

his week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man welcomes back to the microphone Ross "The Produce Boss" as they recap the recent International Fresh Produce Association Foodservice Conference in Monterey and dive into the latest Cyclospora food safety scare.How much of what you're seeing on social media is fact, and how much is fear-driven sensationalism? Dan and Ross separate fact from fiction, discuss what produce is safe, what consumers should know, and how to make sure you're

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25:16

On the Road in California: Peaches, Grapes & the...

Fresh From the Field Fridays ·

2026/07/24

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man kicks things off in Shasta City, California, then heads to Red Bluff and Los Molinos to pick up some delicious Gene Elberta peaches.Next, we take a look at naturally grown Thompson Seedless and Flame Seedless grapes, and answer the question: What is gibberellic acid, and why is it sprayed on some fruit?Then we head to Monterey, California, for the Organic Produce Summit, where we feature Betterful blueberries, introduce the new Lumi

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19:30

The Tomato Trick You Won't Believe (Plus This Week's...

Fresh From the Field Fridays ·

2026/07/17

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man brings you some of the best of the season! We're featuring delicate squash blossoms, tender scallopini squash, colorful sunburst squash, sweet seedless Concord grapes, crisp Stark Crimson pears, and juicy Angelus peaches.And stick around for a surprising backyard gardening tip as Dan shares an unconventional way to keep nighttime critters from helping themselves to your homegrown tomatoes.It's all right here on Fresh from the Field

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20:16

California Pear Season Is Here — So Why Are Imports...

Fresh From the Field Fridays ·

2026/07/10

Dan doesn't usually replay past episodes, but this is one that deserves another look.While Dan is on the road this week, he's bringing back an important conversation with Chris Zanobini of the California Pear Advisory Board, originally recorded this past April. Now that California pear season is in full swing and the challenges discussed in this interview still persist, we felt it was important to bring this conversation back to the forefront and raise even more awareness.This week on Fresh From The

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20:15

From Yumi Watermelon to Stockton Sweet Reds: Fresh...

Fresh From the Field Fridays ·

2026/06/19

This week on Fresh From the Field Fridays, Dan The Produce Man is serving up a table full of summer flavor! From Yumi watermelon and Adriatic figs to Northwest cherries, Stockton sweet red onions, serpent cucumbers, fresh-picked berries, rhubarb, butter lettuce, domestic shiitake mushrooms, juicy plums, and expert tips on choosing the perfect peach—it's all here.Brought to you by the Produce Industry Network, powered by AgLife Media. Visit aglifemedia.com today.

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19:15

Tuscan Cantaloupes, Royal Blenheims and the Great...

Fresh From the Field Fridays ·

2026/06/12

This week on Fresh From The Field Fridays, Dan The Produce Man brings another helping of produce knowledge, seasonal insights, and practical tips you can use the next time you shop.On the produce table are Dulcinea Tuscan cantaloupes and one of the great fruit debates: What's the difference between Royal apricots, Blenheim apricots, and Royal Blenheim apricots? Are they one and the same, or are they different varieties? Dan explains the history behind these legendary apricots and clears up the

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50:49

Are We Eating Ourselves Sick? Dr. Joel Fuhrman Weighs In

Fresh From the Field Fridays ·

2026/06/05

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man welcomes Dr. Joel Fuhrman, board-certified family physician, seven-time New York Times bestselling author, and internationally recognized expert in nutrition and disease prevention.In this thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Fuhrman explains what it means to be a Nutritarian, the importance of nutrient density, the health benefits of his famous "G-BOMBS" foods, and why fruits and vegetables play such a critical role in longevity and

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25:53

Summer Produce Is Heating Up - Figs, Plums, Corn and...

Fresh From the Field Fridays ·

2026/05/29

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays with Dan the Produce Man, on the produce table: early-season Santa Rosa-type plums, Japanese cucumbers, tamarillos, and the first California figs of the season. Find out what makes white peaches taste sweeter than yellow peaches, why organic bell pepper prices are so high right now, and get tips on how to pick the perfect pineapple and the perfect ear of corn. It's all right here on Fresh from the Field Fridays from The Produce Industry Network, powered by

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27:45

From Ancient Times to California Fields - The Story...

Fresh From the Field Fridays ·

2026/05/22

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, California melons are in from El Centro, and May marks the beginning of California cantaloupe season.Dan the Produce Man dives deep into the fascinating history of the cantaloupe - from ancient times, to the papal villa where the melon is believed to have received its name, to the American railroad system that helped spread cantaloupes across the United States. Did cantaloupes really kill a pope? And how did they actually help save lives during World War

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39:16

Fresh for 50 Years - Dan The Produce Man Looks Back

Fresh From the Field Fridays ·

2026/05/15

It was May of 1976 when 15-year-old Dan the Produce Man walked into a produce market in his hometown of Alameda, California. That’s where it all began.This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Patrick Kelly joins Dan to look back on some of the moments, memories, and fun from Dan’s 50 years in the fresh produce industry.From retail to wholesale, foodservice distribution, home delivery, and owning his own produce company, Dan’s journey through five decades in produce has been one incredible

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