The Packer Podcast

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 pro…

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The Packer Podcast: Food Safety Reset: Frank Yiannas on Cyclospora, Salmonella, Ag Water & Rebuilding Consumer Trust
On this episode of The Packer Podcast, former FDA Deputy Commissioner and food safety expert Frank Yiannas joins the show to break down why recent produce outbreaks—including major Cyclospora and Salmonella habiana events—have severely damaged consumer confidence and why traditional investigation m…
36:29
The Packer Podcast: How Economics and Policy Impact Fresh Produce – IFPA’s Samantha Ayoub on Ag Labor Challenges
In this episode of The Packer Podcast, host Christina Herrick sits down with Samantha Ayoub, Director of Workforce and Business Policy at the International Fresh Produce Association. As an economist navigating Capitol Hill, Samantha breaks down the complex economic, regulatory, and market dynamic…
28:00
The Packer Podcast: Moving Forward After the Cyclospora Outbreak to Protect Food Safety and Rebuild
Following the FDA declaring the recent Cyclospora outbreak over, the fresh produce industry faces a critical turning point. How can growers, shippers, and industry leaders move forward, prepare for future risks, and protect consumer confidence? In this episode, De Ann Davis shares essential insig…
28:23
The Packer Podcast: Building the Future of Avocado Growth with the First-Ever Avocado Conference
In this episode, Emiliano Escobedo, Executive Director of the Hass Avocado Board, joins host Christina Herrick to discuss the launch of a dedicated avocado conference happening November 18–20 in San Diego. With the U.S. avocado market surpassing 3 billion pounds, Escobedo explains why the category …
22:10
The Packer Podcast: Why Americans Are Losing Faith in Food Safety (And How to Fix It)
Is consumer confidence in the U.S. food supply actually recovering, or are recent outbreaks making things worse? In this episode, Kris Sollid, Senior Director of Research and Consumer Insights at the International Food Information Council (IFIC), breaks down surprising new data from the flagship Fo…
24:22
The Packer Podcast: Why Canada’s Food Security Depends on a Thriving USMCA Greenhouse Export Market
With 300 truckloads of vegetables crossing the border daily, Richard Lee, executive director of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, outlines why protecting stable access to U.S. consumers directly supports affordable, year-round produce for Canadians.
34:52
The Packer Podcast: How Fresh Produce Brands Can Prepare for the Agentic Commerce Era
Circana’s Jonna Parker outlines why the fresh produce industry must focus on digital storytelling and rich product data to ensure agentic AI engines seamlessly discover and recommend their items to shoppers.
33:56
The Packer Podcast: How a Viral Video Thrust TRIC Robotics and Nighttime Pest Control Into the Millions of Views Spotlight
Following an unexpected surge on social media, founder Adam Stager explains how massive public interest drives global demand for agricultural automation and eco-friendly alternatives to traditional chemical sprays.
27:15
The Packer Podcast: Why the Fresh Produce Industry Must Fight to Save USMCA Right Now
Dante Galeazzi joins "The Packer Podcast" to share why ignoring the trade pact will trigger a damaging domino effect of soaring inflation and small harvests.
29:04
The Packer Podcast: Why EPRs Could Be One More Nail in the Coffin for Produce Growers
Rochelle Bohm of CMI Orchards discusses the threat that extended producer responsibility laws pose to the fresh produce industry and why the high cost of sustainable packaging will be passed on to consumers.
25:46