The Produce Moms® Podcast Spotlights 2026 Lineup Featuring Global Leaders, Women in Agriculture, and the Future of Food

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The Produce Moms® announces its 2026 podcast spotlight, featuring three distinct mini-series that elevate global agriculture, women’s leadership, and the future of food innovation. Since launching in 2018, The Produce Moms Podcast has delivered conversations that bridge consumers and the produce industry while elevating voices shaping food systems worldwide.

The initiative reflects growing global momentum around women’s leadership in agriculture and the role of innovation in feeding a changing world. This year’s spotlight series include: International Year of the Female Farmer, The Women’s Roundtable, and Gene Editing in Agriculture.

International Year of the Female Farmer

In alignment with the United Nations’ International Year of the Female Farmer, The Produce Moms Podcast is dedicating a special mini-series to women driving agricultural progress around the globe. The series opened with an introductory episode featuring CarrieAnn Arias, President and CEO of Pear Bureau Northwest.

“I would love to see more women involved in agriculture,” said Arias in the introductory episode. “And you don't have to be the farmer, you can be the voice and the advocate. There are so many pieces that touch it and when (the FAO) introduced this idea for celebrating an entire year, it was very clear that their intent was all the females that touch it.”

The second episode in the series features Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). In her interview, Bechdol outlines the global realities facing women in agriculture.

“Lori is such a champion and an advocate of agriculture, of fruits and vegetables, and of women,” said Bechdol. “The Produce Moms Podcast is the perfect platform for this work and for what we are trying to do to bring attention and awareness to the International Year of the Woman Farmer.”

• WATCH: AO’s Beth Bechdol on Women in Global Agriculture
• WATCH: Inside the International Year of the Woman Farmer with CarrieAnn Arias

Women’s Fresh Perspectives Roundtable: Class of 2026

Now in its third year, the Women’s Roundtable returns with a new class of influential industry leaders: Jennie Coleman (Equifruit, Inc.), Meghan Diaz (Sprouts Farmers Market), Erica Manfre (South Mill Champs Mushrooms), and Danyel O’Connor (Umami).

The Roundtable continues The Produce Moms’ commitment to amplifying diverse voices and cultivating industry-wide dialogue among women leaders in produce. The year’s first episode explored emerging trends in grocery retail, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and transparency in leadership.

 ”I started this series by happenstance,” said Taylor. “It wasn't planned. We slated three amazing women (CarrieAnn Arias, Karen Nardozza, Tristan Simpson) for an episode. When we wrapped the show, we agreed that we should bring back the same three guests quarterly to see how it went.

“One thing led to another, and now we are on our third season of The Women’s Roundtable miniseries, and I couldn't be happier! The Produce Moms Podcast is the perfect platform for us to spotlight women who have not only made an impression on me, but have impressed the broader food & beverage and agriculture industries.”

The Future of Food: Gene Editing in Agriculture

Building on the two mini-series currently underway, The Produce Moms Podcast will launch an educational mini-series exploring gene editing later this spring.

Details will be released in Spring 2026.