Best International Fresh Produce Association Podcasts (2025)

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Disrupt or Be Disrupted: Why Produce Companies Must Embrace AI Now 27:18

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7h ago27:18

27:18

Join host Vonnie Estes and guest Patrick Vizzone, a global agrifood investor, as they explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the food supply chain. From yield forecasting to market understanding, Patrick discusses the challenges and opportunities that AI presents to the produce industry, emphasizing the importance of data integration a…

1
Field Intelligence: Elliott Grant on AI in Agriculture 29:47

6d ago29:47

29:47

Explore the transformative potential of AI in the produce industry with host Vonnie Estes and guest Elliott Grant. Delve into AI’s application from breeding and growing to marketing and supply chain efficiency. Discover how AI is changing data collection, decision-making, and consumer interaction, while enhancing the skills of workers across the su…

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Hungary's Pride ban goes up in smoke (and glitter) 55:50

26d ago55:50

55:50

This year’s Budapest Pride was banned in March under the Orbán government’s contentious “child protection” law. Demonstrators were threatened with hefty fines for participating, and the government said it would employ facial-recognition technology to identify and potentially prosecute those who turned out to take part at the march on 28 June. Did t…

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Produce and Politics – What does the new federal government mean for fresh produce in Canada? 24:39

1M ago24:39

24:39

In an ever-shifting geopolitical environment, Canada has elected a minority government with many new faces on Parliament Hill. In this episode, CPMA President Ron Lemaire is joined by David Coletto, founder, Chair and CEO of Abacus Data. They break down the post-election political landscape and emerging consumer trends, what we know about Prime Min…

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Toxic chemicals, abortion rights, and a Nazi-era train law 1:12:52

1M ago1:12:52

1:12:52

Depending on where you are in Europe, your right to a safe abortion — and reproductive care in general — can vary dramatically. This week, we speak to pioneering abortion activist Rebecca Gomperts about why she's hopeful that we can fight back against these inequalities as well as crackdowns on abortion access in other parts of the world. We're als…

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Science and Policy: The Battle Shaping Ag Biotechnology 27:17

1M ago27:17

27:17

Join Vonnie Estes as she hosts a captivating discussion with Karen Carr on the evolving landscape of agricultural biotechnology. Delve into the regulatory challenges and opportunities surrounding gene editing, with insights into developments in the US and EU. Discover how these technologies could impact agricultural practices, consumer choice, and …

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Could Europe switch off big tech's algorithms? 1:03:34

2M ago1:03:34

1:03:34

The EU supposedly has some of the world's toughest laws regulating big tech. So why does it still feel like Europeans are being sucked into increasingly polarised online communities, and manipulated during our elections? Can we do anything about it? This week's guest, the Irish internet campaigner Johnny Ryan, argues that a pretty radical solution …

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Unveiling the MAHA Commission: The Future of Food Policies and Public Health 25:06

2M ago25:06

25:06

Join host Vonnie Estes on “Fresh Takes on Tech” as she welcomes back Mollie Van Lieu, VP of Nutrition and Health in Government Relations at IFPA. They delve into the implications of the MAHA Commission’s first report, co-chaired by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., highlighting its focus on ultra-processed foods, regulatory reform, and the influ…

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Is real change coming to Serbia? 43:08

2M ago43:08

43:08

Serbia’s government has come under intense pressure since a deadly disaster at Novi Sad’s main railway station last November. Student-led protests have spiralled into a nation-wide resistance movement and for months, Serbians have been speaking out against corruption, a lack of accountability, and a culture of impunity in Aleksandar Vučić’s regime.…

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Navigating the New Administration: What's Next for Pesticides and Crop Protection? 23:54

2M ago23:54

23:54

Explore the future of agriculture amidst regulatory shifts as Vonnie Estes discusses the impact of the new U.S. administration on pesticides and crop protection with Paul Lewis, VP of Food Safety Standards at the International Fresh Produce Association. Delve into the complexities of regulatory influences, the promise of gene editing, and the risin…

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Hungary's plight, kids' rights, and Spargelzeit 56:58

2M ago56:58

56:58

Asparagus, lesbian family rights and Viktor Orbán’s latest power plays: like all good meals, this podcast episode is perfectly balanced. German food writer Ursula Heinzelmann joins us to explain the ‘Spargelzeit’ phenomenon that sees foodies going nutty for asparagus at this time of year. We’re also taking a look at LGBTQ rights in Italy and unpack…

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PFAS and Your Produce: Separating Fact from Fiction 31:28

2M ago31:28

31:28

Join host Vonnie Estes and Dr. Linda Lee, an environmental chemistry expert from Purdue, as they delve into the world of PFAS chemicals. This episode demystifies the “forever chemicals,” exploring their impact on food, especially produce, and potential health risks. Understand the widespread presence of PFAS through products and the environment, an…

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What the hell just happened in Romania (and at Eurovision)? 1:09:09

2M ago1:09:09

1:09:09

Romania, Poland, Portugal... and of course, most importantly of all (?), Eurovision. It's been a huge week of voting across Europe! This week we're mostly diving into Romania's election drama with Codruţa Simina, a journalist with an extremely helpful specialism in online misinformation and disinformation. We're also tackling the controversy over I…

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Beyond the Headlines: Understanding Microplastics, PFAS and Heavy Metals Risk in Produce 26:54

2M ago26:54

26:54

Explore the invisible threats in our food with Vonnie Estes and Wendalyn Jones, CEO of the Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences. Delve into the world of microplastics, PFAS, and heavy metals, their presence in produce, and implications for health and agriculture. Wendlyn separates science from hype, discusses regulatory pers…

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Europe, an unfinished love story 17:52

3M ago17:52

17:52

This week, a not-so-classic 'girl meets boy' story. Başak Layic, storyteller extraordinaire, reflects on what the European Dream looks like from the outside. This story was recorded live at SPUI25 in Amsterdam as part of 'Europe Up For Grabs?', an event organised for Europe Day 2025 by DutchCulture and the European Cultural Foundation. You can watc…

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Behind the Scenes of Produce Policy: Science and Politics 33:48

3M ago33:48

33:48

Explore the pivotal intersection of science, agriculture, and policy with Vonnie Estes and policy expert Rebeckah F. Adcock as they discuss the produce industry’s future. Delve into how science influences policy, technological advancements, and climate change impacts. Understand the challenges of agricultural labor and the importance of civic engag…

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Is a pregnant nun about to crash Poland's election? 1:12:58

3M ago1:12:58

1:12:58

In theory, the government's guy looks set to win Poland's presidential election, making life a hell of a lot easier for Donald Tusk as he attempts to undo eight years of destructive authoritarian rule under the previous rightwing populists. But might a pregnant nun swoop in and change everything at the last minute? For an explanation of this metaph…

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How to make sense of Europe's place in the world right now 46:52

3M ago46:52

46:52

The world is in flux. What's Europe's place in it, exactly? This week, we're bringing you something different: a big, sprawling conversation with leading European historian Timothy Garton Ash. Can anything good come from Trumpism for this continent? What can be done to stop autocrats like Viktor Orbán from undermining the EU from the inside? And do…

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Hungary's Pride crackdown, Ukrainian sleuths, and 158 barrels of poop 1:06:27

3M ago1:06:27

1:06:27

We've got a veritable smörgåsbord for you this week on The Europeans, from human rights in Hungary to the sorry tale of two Danish sustainability influencers whose eco-resort business went spectacularly wrong. We discuss why Viktor Orbán is concentrating so much effort on bullying the LGBTQI community at a time when Hungary has major problems to fi…

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Inside Europe: Exploring Grief 54:31

3M ago54:31

54:31

We're away this week, but you're in good company: our friends at Deutsche Welle (DW), Germany's international broadcaster, are here to fill in for us. On this special edition of DW's weekly podcast Inside Europe, the team takes a break from the news to explore grief as a lens for understanding global events. Author Sarah Jaffe joins host Kate Layco…

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State of Trade: A New Era of International Trade 46:30

3M ago46:30

46:30

At the CPMA Annual Convention Ron Lemaire, CPMA and John Stackhouse from RBC held a fireside chat to explore the current state of the North American agri-food and produce market. They delve into key issues such as macroeconomic trends affecting supply chains, ongoing trade and market access challenges for agri-food, and the ripple effects of volati…

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Tesla, Turkey, and unnecessary trash 56:46

4M ago56:46

56:46

We're taking the Schadenfreude approach to the chaos that Trump's tariffs have unleashed upon Europe (and the rest of the world). This week, our favourite Luxembourger Nina Lamparski joins Dominic to explain why sales of Elon Musk's Tesla cars have already plunged in Europe and could now fare even worse thanks to his best bud's trade policies. We'r…

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Rockets, recipes and Le Pen(itentiary) 53:30

4M ago53:30

53:30

Marine Le Pen has been banned from running for the French presidency after this week's bombshell court ruling finding her guilty in a huge embezzlement case. But does she have any chance of a comeback? And could the far-right win the presidency without her? This week we're discussing the earthquake in French politics, as well as Europe's space ambi…

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How would Europe's €800 billion defence plan actually work? 1:02:47

4M ago1:02:47

1:02:47

Europe is set to spend an eye-wateringly huge amount of money on building up its militaries over the next few years, after That Guy In The White House signalled he's no longer that interested in helping us defend ourselves against Russia. But where is all this money supposed to come from? And does it matter if some countries are more enthusiastic a…

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Should Canada join the EU? 53:36

4M ago53:36

53:36

Europe and Canada have a lot in common, from their headaches over Donald Trump to a shared belief in welfare states. If Australia can be a part of Eurovision, is there anything stopping us from welcoming our Canadian friends into the EU?! This week we talk to Stanley Pignal, The Economist's semi-Canadian Brussels bureau chief, about what would be i…

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Putin's African antics, the death of Skype, and a Eurovision c-bomb 1:00:02

5M ago1:00:02

1:00:02

Thousands of kilometres from the devastating war it's been waging in Ukraine, Russia has involved itself in a swathe of other conflicts that attract much less attention: in Africa. Why? This week we speak to Beverly Ochieng, a self-described Wagner Group stalker, about what Russia is playing at. We're also talking about a foul-mouthed (?) Eurovisio…

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Smart Irrigation, Disease Detection, and Solar-Powered Farming: The Future of AgTech 29:50

5M ago29:50

29:50

Description: Vonnie Estes sits down with three innovators transforming how agriculture manages energy, water, and disease detection. Michael Salvador, co-founder and CEO of Mirai Solar, discusses how photovoltaic shading systems generate clean energy while protecting crops from excessive sunlight. Sarah Placella, founder and CEO of Root Applied Sci…

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Big news for The Europeans! 17:20

5M ago17:20

17:20

Producers Katz and Wojciech join Katy and Dominic to share a couple of nuggets of exciting news for The Europeans. You can find out all about our new partners at Euranet Plus, a network of radio stations across Europe, here. And you can read all about our crowdfunded mini-series 'Who Does It Best?' — and contribute, if you'd like! — here. Maja and …

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Innovating Produce Supply Chains: AI, Fintech, and Food Quality Solutions 40:59

5M ago40:59

40:59

Description: Vonnie Estes explores how data, financing, and AI-driven solutions are transforming the fresh produce industry with insights from three pioneering companies. David Kat of Neolithics discusses how hyperspectral imaging is enabling non-destructive analysis of fruits and vegetables, reducing food waste, and improving quality control. Pat …

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Germany's elections: should we freak out or not? 45:17

5M ago45:17

45:17

Germany just staged one of Europe's most crucial elections this year. The results are simultaneously shocking and not-shocking: shocking because the far-right made huge gains; not shocking because they are likely to deliver a coalition between the country's two legacy mainstream parties. So, to what extent should we be freaking out right now? In th…

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AgroFresh, ClearLeaf, and Sufresca – Extending Shelf Life in Fresh Produce 31:32

5M ago31:32

31:32

Description: In this episode, Vonnie Estes explores innovations in extending produce shelf life with leaders from three pioneering companies. Rodrigo Cifuentes and Bradford Warner from AgroFresh discuss their SmartFresh and FreshCloud technologies, which use sensing and digital solutions to maintain quality and reduce waste. Agustin Büchert from Cl…

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Euro-defence, euro-booze and euro-TV 1:07:17

5M ago1:07:17

1:07:17

This week, the great transatlantic break-up. How can we make sense of the seismic shift in Europe's relationship with the US since Trump took power? What does it mean for Ukraine, and Europe's ability to defend itself from Russia? As a palate-cleanser, we're also hearing all the secrets of the international TV trade. Why do people in so many countr…

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Farm-ng & L5 Robotics: Small-Scale Robotics and Autonomous Harvesting Innovations 22:50

5M ago22:50

22:50

Description: Vonnie Estes welcomes Nathan Dorn, VP of Business Development for Farm-ng, and Alex Gutierrez, Founder of L5 Robotics, to explore the transformative role of robotics in agriculture. Nathan discusses Farm-ng’s development of small electric robotic tractors that support farming tasks such as data collection, weeding, and harvesting, whil…

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Dark skies, cheap shopping and an EU laser show 51:40

6M ago51:40

51:40

Nocturnal tourism is supposedly one of the big travel trends of 2025, and from star-gazing to truffle-hunting, there are plenty of places in Europe to do it. But where is this craving for darkness coming from? This week we speak to Anna Levin, author of two beautiful books about the impact of artificial light on the world around us, about why Europ…

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AgraGene & BloomX: Transforming Pest Control and Pollination Practices 20:26

6M ago20:26

20:26

Description: This episode features two innovative companies addressing critical agricultural challenges. Stephanie Gamez, Director of R&D at AgraGene, introduces their gene-editing technology designed to combat Drosophila suzukii, an invasive pest devastating small fruit crops. Using sterile insect techniques, AgraGene offers growers an environment…

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Taylor Farms: Redefining Sustainable Packaging with Plant-Based Solutions 21:34

6M ago21:34

21:34

How can the fresh produce industry reduce its environmental footprint through innovative packaging? Jenny Panziera, VP of Operations at Taylor Farms, joins the show to discuss how Taylor Farms is leading the way in redefining sustainable packaging with plant-based solutions. Jenny shares insights into how the company balances operational efficiency…

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Butterflies and bullied protesters 56:17

6M ago56:17

56:17

Europe's rarest butterfly lives on the outskirts of a single town in North Macedonia. So why is it possible to find specimens of this incredibly endangered animal for sale online for 30 euros? This week we speak to Kiril Arsovski Przo, one of the scientists behind an investigation into this troubling legal loophole. We're also talking about the far…

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The world needs more drag cows 47:29

6M ago47:29

47:29

In an otherwise miserable week, this podcast is delighted to bring you a joyful interview with a drag cow. At least, an interview with the person behind the cow: the Swiss artist, performer and animal rights activist Daniel Hellmann. We chat to Daniel about why he decided to channel his campaigning side into something so wonderfully silly. We're al…

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Russia's gas games 50:31

6M ago50:31

50:31

There's been a weird loophole in the war in Ukraine up until now. Nearly three years after Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine was still being paid to transport Russian gas for sale to Europe, all while Moscow continued to kill its people. What does the end of this strange deal mean? This week we ring up energy expert Szymon Kardaś to ask how Put…

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Democratic salami and boiling frogs 47:34

7M ago47:34

47:34

Between Elon Musk's meddling and Romania's election rollercoaster, the state of Europe's democracies feels a little scary at the start of 2025. This week we talk to Tom Theuns, author of a new book about Europe's failure to stop the slow slide towards autocracy so far and what we can do to fix it. Tom is a senior assistant professor of political th…

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Cold water, warm hearts 58:59

8M ago58:59

58:59

As the winter chill sets in, throngs of Europeans are heading each week to the nearest pond, lake or coastline to dunk themselves voluntarily in freezing cold water. Cold swimming has centuries of history on this continent, but why do it? This week we're delving into the science of why it makes us feel good — but also why it helps so many people th…

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The manosphere, the 'TikTok messiah', and 132 hamsters 54:28

8M ago54:28

54:28

We've got a heady mix of Romanian politics, online misogyny and animal-based chaos for you this week. Friend of the show Andrei Popoviciu joins us to explain why his dad and many other voters backed the TikTok-fuelled campaign of far-right Romanian presidential candidate Călin Georgescu. And we ring up three young people from Greece, Ireland and Li…

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Has Donald Tusk fixed Poland? 57:22

8M ago57:22

57:22

It's been a year since Donald Tusk took power, filling liberals and progressives in Poland with hope as eight years of rightwing populist rule came to an end. But how much has Tusk's coalition really improved things? This week Dominika Lasota of Wschód, an increasingly influential force that has been holding Tusk's government to account, joins us t…

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The perils of standing up to Iran from Europe 48:30

8M ago48:30

48:30

From Turkey to France and the UK, Iranians who've challenged the regime at home have often sought safety in Europe. But how safe are these dissidents, really? This week we speak to Fariba Nawa, host of 'Lethal Dissent', a fascinating new podcast series that investigates Iran's efforts to silence those in exile on European soil and beyond. We're als…

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A special announcement from The Europeans 15:55

9M ago15:55

15:55

Producers Katz and Wojciech join Katy and Dominic for a very special announcement from The Europeans. We’re incredibly excited to make this series for you. Please help us turn it into a reality! Sign up to support this project here: https://4fund.com/z/europeanspodcast Got ideas for places we need to go or people we need to interview for this serie…

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Spain's floods, Moldova's election, and what the kids of Europe are watching 1:03:01

9M ago1:03:01

1:03:01

The world may be transfixed by the US election results, but this was a huge week for news on this side of the Atlantic too. This week we're trying to make sense of the cataclysmic floods in Spain, and talking about another presidential election with major consequences — the one in Moldova. Plus, a much-needed palate-cleanser: we're delving into a f…

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Is this the end of Georgia's European dream? 50:02

9M ago50:02

50:02

Georgia's pro-Russian ruling party claims to have won last weekend's election — a fraudulent election, according to a mounting pile of evidence. A country that was once on the path to EU membership is now veering much closer to the Kremlin. Is there any hope left? We ring Anna Gvarishvili, Tbilisi-based journalist and head of the Investigative Medi…

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Naughty, naughty Switzerland 53:52

9M ago53:52

53:52

Wine fraud, migration policy and climate litigation: there's something for everyone this week. Back in April, Switzerland's government lost a groundbreaking European court case and was ordered to rewrite its climate policy. Has it actually done that? No, no it has not. We speak to Geneva-based climate lawyer Seb Duyck about whether Switzerland can …