I'm David Del Pino, and this is Freshconomics— Welcome to the Fresh Produce Business— A world where uncertainty is the only constant and volatility shapes every decision. Every day, remarkable people navigate this chaos with skill and courage. Join me as we explore the hidden logic of this industry to decode what others call unpredictable. Help me connect with the community of professionals in the fresh produce industry. Visit my blog at DavidDelPino.com where you'll find out how to get your copy of the book Freshconomics. And feel free to send any questions to: web@daviddelpino.com.
FRESHCONOMICS — The Podcast of the Fresh Produce Business
Claim This Podcastby David Del Pino
17 episodes
Updated Daily
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Podcast Overview
I'm David Del Pino, and this is Freshconomics— Welcome to the Fresh Produce Business— A world where uncertainty is the only constant and volatility shapes every decision. Every day, remarkable people navigate this chaos with skill and courage. Join me as we explore the hidden logic of this industry to decode what others call unpredictable. Help me connect with the community of professionals in the fresh produce industry. Visit my blog at DavidDelPino.com where you'll find out how to get your copy of the book Freshconomics. And feel free to send any questions to: web@daviddelpino.com.
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Publishing Since
3/9/2026
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Recent Episodes
July 2, 2026
Ep. 17. Statistics, Surveys and other Lies
<p>Quite some time ago I remember reading a viral tweet from an American dentist that made me laugh out loud. If I recall properly, the dentist was sarcastically replying to the typical press story of: <strong>“9 out of 10 dentists recommend…”</strong>.</p><p>The dentist said something along the lines of: “I’ve been in this profession for 20 years and nobody has ever asked me anything… and the thing is, I talk to my colleagues at the conferences, and I’ve never once met a single dentist who was asked anything either.”</p><p>I think my automatic, almost involuntary laugh came from realizing that every industry is dealing with the same issues. It also made me realize that <strong>I tend to read news about surveys, trends, and market research in our own sector with a mixture of amused disbelief and skepticism</strong>.</p><p>And I couldn’t help but start wondering since when, and how, all this happened to me.</p><p><strong>How did I go from being a marketing believer in market research and the power of data to a sarcastic sceptic?</strong></p><p>This is a story that spans <strong>the replication crisis in Academia</strong>, <strong>the erosion of trust in the Press and Media</strong>, and, ultimately, <strong>the challenges of building reliable knowledge from data in our sector</strong>.</p>
June 25, 2026
Ep. 16. Our Weakness is Our Strength
<p>Today I want to talk to you about something that sounds like a contradiction: <strong>the idea that our greatest weakness, as a sector, is also our greatest strength</strong>.</p><p>To get there, I’m going to use a few concepts borrowed from operations management, economics and even a little bit of physics: <strong>efficacy versus efficiency, supply-driven versus demand-driven industries, Just-in-Time, Lean Management, Kanban, the efficiency paradox, oversized production assets and local supply chains</strong>.</p><p>And I’m going to ask you a question that I think every professional in this business should be able to proudly answer.</p><p><strong>How is it possible that during the pandemic the powerful, modern, sophisticated industries — carmakers and so many others — had to stop their production lines, while the fresh produce sector not only kept working but dealt with a spectacular surge in demand?</strong></p><p>What is so special about this sector that it can do what is impossible for others?</p><p>The reason is this: <strong>“our own weakness becomes our most resounding strength” when we face volatility</strong>. </p><p>Let me explain why, because it is not pure luck. It is an industry structure built up by means of incentives. And once you understand it, you’ll never again let anyone look down on this business with a condescending smile.</p>
June 18, 2026
Ep. 15. Strategically Aligned Supply Chains
<p>For this episode, let me give you a preview of the topics I’m going to talk about: <strong>commoditisation, economies of scale, standardisation, critical mass, logistics, efficiency, intensive distribution, technology, breeding, deseasonalisation, convenience, innovation</strong>, and much more.</p><p>All of those terms are ingredients of something we call <strong>strategically aligned global chains</strong>, and to explain it I’m going to use <strong>the history of the banana in the world</strong>.</p><p>What does it take to turn a strange, exotic fruit into something the entire world’s population eats every day?</p><p>How do you go about enormously expanding the supply of a product while at the same time dominating its markets and developing its demand?</p><p>Because this is the story of how a food that was almost unknown in the northern hemisphere at the end of the nineteenth century became an irreplaceable part of our modern diet. A product that has built empires, provoked wars, toppled governments, and to which we owe expressions such as <strong>“banana republic”</strong>.</p><p>And we have to admit that the banana industry has done a spectacular job of turning it into an affordable, everyday product. However, <strong>being cheap (affordable) may be a necessary condition for such success, but it is not a sufficient one</strong>.</p>
17 total episodes available
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