Blue Book Services has been a cornerstone of the produce industry for over a century—but credit reporting is only part of the story.

In this episode of The Fresh CrEd, we sit down with Kirk Soule, CEO of Blue Book Services, and Jason Carty, VP of Sales, to unpack how Blue Book is expanding its role across the supply chain. From new pricing intelligence and weather tools to retailer scorecards, fraud prevention, and the growing role of AI, this conversation highlights how trust and transparency are becoming competitive advantages in today’s market.

Recorded at the IFPA Global Show, this discussion goes beyond the booth to explore what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and how the industry can better protect itself while moving forward.

Join The Fresh CrEd at the 2025 Global Produce & Floral Show as we sit down with Jon Brooks (VP of Retail Sales – North America) and Pat Young (Director of Grower Sales) from IFCO to dig into some of the biggest challenges and innovations shaping the fresh supply chain today.

Jon and Pat break down:

• How retailers and growers are navigating labor pressures

• Why reusable containers (RPCs) are gaining momentum across the supply chain

• The rise of automation and how IFCO is preparing distribution centers for the future

• The role of cold chain visibility and RFID in protecting freshness

• What retailers truly value most: freshness, shelf life, and reduced shrink

• New opportunities in field-to-processor programs and value-added packaging

• Global perspectives—from European automation to emerging South American participation

Whether you’re in retail, growing, logistics, or tech, this conversation offers a clear look into where fresh-produce operations are heading and how IFCO is positioning reusable solutions to support a changing industry.

Recorded live at GPFS 2025 in Anaheim.

In this episode of The Fresh CrEd, recorded live at the 2025 IFPA Foodservice Conference in Monterey, we spotlight Digital Nest — a nonprofit workforce hub that’s been creating opportunities for underserved youth for more than a decade.

With centers across Watsonville, Salinas, Gilroy, Modesto, and Stockton, Digital Nest equips young people ages 14–24 with technical and creative skills that open doors to careers in tech, marketing, and beyond.

Their work doesn’t stop at the classroom — they’re also experimenting with how Gen Z connects to food through projects like the “I’d Bite That” social media campaign.

From mentorship to career pipelines, Digital Nest shows what’s possible when access, creativity, and community come together.

👉 Learn more at digitalnest.org

🎧 Listen now to learn how the next generation of leaders is being built in the heart of ag country.

Series support: Wiggins Farms | IFCO | Little Bear Produce | Misionero | SunFed | Born Farms | International Fresh Produce Association

In this episode of The Fresh CrEd, recorded live at the 2025 IFPA Foodservice Conference in Monterey, we sit down with Paul Hardy, CEO of Monterey Mushrooms.

Paul shares a career shaped by international supply chains, data storytelling, and a philosophy of leadership built on systems and trust. From moving across the globe to leading one of America’s largest mushroom producers, he discusses how global experience translates to local leadership, why facts and context matter more than firefighting, and how educating consumers about mushrooms can reduce waste and grow the category.

Whether you’re in the produce business, a leader in any field, or simply curious about the food on your table, Paul’s insights on teamwork, planning, and communication offer value far beyond mushrooms.

🎧 Presented by IFCO.

Series support: Wiggins Farms | IFCO | Little Bear Produce | Misionero | SunFed | Born Farms | IFPA.

In this episode of The Fresh CrEd, recorded live at the 2025 IFPA Foodservice Conference in Monterey, we sit down with Peter Beaullieu, Director of Sourcing for Topco’s West Coast produce division.

From his first job behind a Central Market cheese counter to leading sourcing for one of the nation’s largest cooperatives, Peter’s journey is rooted in flavor, data, and servant leadership. He shares how co-ops give regional retailers the tools to compete, why data only matters when it tells a story, and what it takes to balance quality with value in a shifting consumer market.

We also explore consumer trends, specialty and local produce, and the narrowing gap between “luxury” items and everyday fresh. Whether you’re a produce professional or simply passionate about good food, this conversation offers insights into leadership, team growth, and the future of fresh.

🎧 Presented by Wiggins Farms.

Series support: Wiggins Farms | IFCO | Little Bear Produce | Misionero | SunFed | Born Farms | IFPA.

In this episode of The Fresh CrEd, recorded live at the 2025 IFPA Foodservice Conference in Monterey, we sit down with Jeanne Reilly, Director of School Nutrition @ RSU 14 Windham / Raymond School District.

Jeanne shares how schools can transform cafeterias into spaces that build lifelong healthy eating habits, and why getting fruits and vegetables onto every tray matters for kids, families, and communities alike.

We explore:

• How early exposure to produce shapes lifelong health outcomes

• The challenges and opportunities in today’s K–12 nutrition programs

• Why partnerships between schools, growers, and parents are critical for success

Whether you’re in produce, education, or a parent invested in your child’s nutrition, this conversation offers insights you can put into action today.

🎧 Powered by Little Bear Produce.

Series support: Wiggins Farms | IFCO | Little Bear Produce | Misionero | Sunfed | Born Farms | IFPA.

IFPA President Cathy Burns lays out a simple mandate: if we want better health outcomes, policy must say “fruits and vegetables”—plainly. We cover the Make America Healthy Again effort, why 90% of Americans miss the daily produce mark, and the moves that convert talk into action across K–12, colleges & universities, and foodservice.

Presented by Wiggins Farms.

Series support: Wiggins Farms | IFCO | Little Bear Produce | Misionero | SunFed | Born Farms | International Fresh Produce Association

Takeaways:

• Name fruits & vegetables explicitly in federal guidance

• Fund programs that actually raise daily intake

• Bring leaders on-site—seeing fresh in action converts

Join us inside the IFPA Retail Conference in Frisco, Texas, for three fast-paced conversations with the people shaping the future of fresh produce:

• Yan Branco, VP of Produce Merchandising at Sobeys

  Shares how cross-border collaboration—and removing competitive barriers—fuels innovation and keeps produce front and center as “food as medicine” and the “cleanest-burning fuel.”

• Joe Merenda, President / COO at Misionero

  Unpacks how regional supply chains are evolving, the power of intimate, decision-maker-driven events, and why right-sized agility lets them launch custom salad kits that drive consumption.

• Joe Watson, VP of Retail, Foodservice, and Wholesale at IFPA

  Reflects on the purpose behind this tight-knit gathering, how interactive breakout sessions amplified ideas between supply-side and retail leaders, and what’s next for the conference in Phoenix.

Special thanks to our sponsors—Misionero, Born Farms, IFCO, SunFed and the International Fresh Produce Association—for making this episode possible.

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