This week on the Produce Pair Radio Show – Historic Radio Archives, we step back to October 20th, 2001.
Dan the Produce Man and Guido the Gardener welcome David Simonian of Simonian Fruit Company for a deep dive into pomegranates — varieties, growing regions, and why this bold, ruby-red fruit deserves a spot in every kitchen.
Then the guys tackle some early-2000s “cutting-edge” tech:
➡️ Should they finally buy a digital camera to post photos on their website, or stick with developing film at the local drugstore?
Plus, listener calls spark conversations about:
Fiddlehead ferns (even though it’s totally the wrong season)
Yucca root tips
Better ways to cook beans
The Produce Pair Radio Show Archives.
Tune in and turn on!
This Week on the Produce Pair Radio Show Historic Archives
We go back 21 years, to October 2nd, 2004. Dan the Produce Man and Guido the Gardener welcome Cathy Napoli, registered dietitian and holistic nutritionist, for a look at the health and nutrition trends of the time.
And you know what? Some things haven’t changed much at all… and some things have changed a whole lot. We dive into:
What a real portion size actually is
The dangers of a steady fast-food diet
Good fats vs. bad fats
High fructose corn syrup — and how “you become what you eat”
Food colorings and late-night eating
Why having fruits and veggies in the house matters
Junk food seduction and how one “off” ingredient can wreck your salad
What to replace chips and soda with
Insulin, inflammation, detox, and so much more
It’s a lively discussion from 2004 that still rings true today.
Be sure to check it out — without a doubt. Tune in and turn on!
This week on the Produce Pair Radio Show Archives, we’re rolling back to September 29th, 2001 with none other than Mark Todd, the Cheese Dude! That’s right — it’s a show packed with cheesy goodness and a whole lot of fun.
Mark takes us through the history and origins of different cheeses, explains what the wax colors mean and why they matter, and even tosses in some fascinating cheese trivia. Plus, we explore some incredible California varieties.
Whether you’re a cheese lover or just looking for a fun and flavorful listen, this one’s for you. It’s all right here on the Produce Pair Historic Archives, from the Talk America Radio Network.
Tune in and turn on!
This week on the Produce Pair Radio Show Archives, Dan the Produce Man and Guido the Gardener are joined by two special guests!
First, we step back to September 14, 2002, when Australian navel oranges were just starting to make their way into the U.S. market. David Mixon of DNE World Fruit Sales joins us to talk about this exciting development and what it meant for the produce world at the time.
Then, we’re joined by one of our all-time favorite guests throughout the history of the Produce Pair Radio Show — Chef Carlo Middione. Carlo was a celebrated cookbook author (The Food of Southern Italy, La Vera Cucina, Carlo Middione’s Traditional Pasta), chef-restaurateur, television personality, and owner of the beloved Vivande Portavia at Opera Plaza and Vivande on California Street in San Francisco.
Carlo’s passion for food and his genuine warmth made every appearance unforgettable. In this episode, he shares some incredible dishes, including:
Sicilian bread
Black Mission figs with goat cheese ice cream
Carrots sautéed and caramelized with heirloom tomatoes
Romano bean salad
Fried cauliflower
Arugula oil and eggplant
Nuns’ Thighs - plum sauce
…and much more!
It’s a lively, delicious, and nostalgic episode you won’t want to miss - it’s all here on the Produce Pair Radio Show Archives - Tune in and turn on!
In this week's historic episode, we’re going back to September 8th, 2001. Cut! It’s a triple celebration — September is National Mushroom Month, National Organic Harvest Month, and, back then, it was even National Five-a-Day Week. Remember that?
While Guido is off soaking up the Hawaiian sunshine, Dan the Produce Man flies solo and welcomes Barbara Berry, Vice President of the Produce for Better Health Foundation. Barbara shares practical tips for getting more fruits and veggies into your daily diet, consumer trends from the early 2000s, and creative ways to make produce a bigger part of everyday life.
Plus, hear about studies linking produce consumption to better memory, motor skills, and overall health — and see how these health trends from 24 years ago stack up against what we know today.
This week on the Produce Pair Radio Show: Historic Archives
We roll back to September 1st, 2000. While Guido The Gardner was vacationing in Hawaii, Greg McDonald—The Produce Guy—joined Dan the Produce Man for a lively chat on:
Indian Red Peaches
Kyoho and Peony Grape varieties
Yali and Hosui Pears
Kharbouza, Temptation, Cavaillon, & Crenshaw Melons
A smart melon-washing tip before cutting
Mixed Medley Cherry Tomatoes
…and a whole lot more!
It’s all right here in the Produce Pair Historic Archives.
Tune in and turn on—and hear what was happening 25 years ago!
From The Galloping Gourmet to The Gathering Place—celebrity chef Graham Kerr shares his shift to healthy, joyful cooking. Then, Jeff Schaefer (Stellar Distributing) joins us to talk about California fresh figs. Recorded in August 1999 on the TalkAmerica Radio Network.
On July 24, 1999, we broadcasted The Produce Pair Radio Show live from The Cannery’s 4th Annual Peach Festival in San Francisco — and now, for the first time in 25 years, we’re bringing that episode back!
Tune in as Rodger Helwig sits in for Guido the Gardener, and we welcome:
👉 Sheila Zimmerman of Del Monte Foods
👉 Jenny Herr of Echo Communications
We’re talking all things peaches — from the fruit’s deep California roots to juicy fun facts, recipes, and the story behind the historic Cannery (once the world’s largest fruit and vegetable canning facility).
🎧 🍑 Vintage vibes. Fresh produce talk. San Francisco summer memories.
Catch the re-release of this golden slice of produce radio history!
🎙️ This Week on The Produce Pair Radio Show Historic Archives:
We rewind to July 10th, 1999 for a flavorful flashback featuring Jennifer Eriksen from the Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Board! Broadcasting live on location with a lively audience, Jennifer takes us deep into the world of Sweet Onions—their flavor, their story, and why they’re so beloved.
🎁 Audience members walked away with fun prizes, and the recording includes a historic newsbreak from the day, plus classic ads from some long-gone brands that’ll spark a little nostalgia.
Step back in time and enjoy the flavor of summer ’99—only on The Produce Pair Radio Show Historic Archives!
This Produce Pair Show was barely 3 months old and was braodcasting on 2 stations in the San Francisco Bay Area KATD in Concord CA and KBPA in San Francisco CA.
Guido and Dan are live at Paul's Produce in Alameda CA with phone guests Susan O'Rielly from the national Watermelon Promotion Board and Ron Perry of Perry & Sons Watermelons, Mateca CA.
There's a bit of noise in this very early show from 1998, but the content is fun!
The Produce Pair Radio Show on the Talk America Radio Network.
June 7th sometime in the very early 2000s Guido The Gardener and Dan The Produce Man are joined by Kentucky Wonder Beans, Boysenberries and Blackberries, Guido's Squash tips in the garden, Dan's Heirloom Tomatoes
Fire up the grill this weekend with fresh new crop California corn on the cob! The desert region has given us great promotable volume on this first of the season crop from Coachella!
Fresh English Peas in the pod are in from along California's coastal growing regions
Dan shares tips on what to look for so you ca become an expert at picking out the sweetest
peas every time!
Dan shares with us the best way to pick an artichoke with a Big Heart!
Like many other apples the cidery sweet Gold Rush Apple is a combination of several other varieties. Tasty, Crunchy, and in season NOW!
When you buy specific produce items during your trip to the farmers market makes a big difference in how long they will last.
Are California Concord Grapes really Concord Grapes? The Thompson Seedless Golden Surprise!
September is a great month for fresh California figs, but how do you pick the sweetest and tastiest fruit?
September is a great month for California tomatoes, Heirlooms, Beefsteaks, and Multi-colored Cherry Tomatoes, but there's one tomato that bursts with more flavor than all of them! Tune in and find out what Dan's pick is this week!
Blast from the Past: Award-winning Hall of Fame Legend Graham Kerr joins Dan and Guido to share the pleasure of fresh fruit and vegetables.