NEW JERSEY, US - Peter “Produce Pete” Napolitano, a beloved New Jersey produce expert and longtime television personality, died January 26, 2026, at age 80. Known for his plainspoken advice and decades of appearances on NBC 4 New York, he helped generations of viewers shop smarter, cook simply, and eat with confidence.
“Week after week, Produce Pete showed genuine care for the produce community and the work that goes into bringing fresh food to the table," reflected Christian Harris, Chief Operating Officer, Sunkist Growers, in a statement sent to AndNowUKnow. "His enthusiasm, integrity, and love for fruits and vegetables helped inspire countless families and left a lasting mark on our industry.”
His obituary reads as follows:
Peter "Produce Pete" Napolitano, the longtime New Jersey produce man whose plainspoken TV advice helped generations shop and cook with confidence, died January 26, 2026. He was 80.
Napolitano appeared for more than three decades on Saturday editions of NBC 4 New York's "Weekend Today in New York," offering seasonal fruit-and-vegetable guidance and simple cooking tips. His segments were built on the same idea he often signed off with: "If you eat right, you're going to live right!"
Born in Bergenfield, New Jersey, on February 23, 1945, Napolitano frequently spoke on air about growing up in Englewood. His father, an Italian immigrant who came to New Jersey after World War II, opened Napolitano's Produce in Bergenfield in 1959. The young Napolitano worked there as a boy, and he later took over the family business.
Napolitano credited a chance encounter for launching his television career. In a 2023 recollection quoted by New Jersey Monthly, he said a visitor to his store was impressed with the deep knowledge of produce that he had gained from a lifetime in the business. She encouraged him to try TV, and after a segment on local TV, he began his regular appearances on NBC in 1992.
Colleagues remembered him as both approachable and deeply loyal to his viewers. Amy Morris, senior vice president of news for NBC 4 New York and Telemundo 47, said, "He was a beloved member of our station family and our viewers felt the same way - visiting him at our Health Expo, our Feeding our Families Food Drives or the many farmers markets across New Jersey where he always felt right at home."
His family life was part of his on-air warmth. Her and his wife, Bette, met as teenagers, remaining together the rest of their lives. Many of her recipes found their way to his on-air segments. She survives him, as do their two children and seven grandchildren.
