50 - The Fruit Nerd // Bringing Excitement Back to Produce
This was recorded in April 2024, so some topics that were raised may be a little outdated (been to Korea btw).
When you think of the term 'fruit and veg', what comes to mind? Grocery shopping? The food pyramid? A healthy lifestyle? Something I need more of? Well for people like Thanh, it's something that really excites him. So much that he was donned the name 'The Fruit Nerd' from his mates.
His mission is to revolutionise how we see and enjoy fresh produce. After listening to this, I hope that you can appreciate some of the work that goes behind the scenes for grocers to have produce stocked on the shelves. Thanh is an incredible story teller and shares many stories of his fruit experiences and his tips and tricks for fruit/veg. If you want the full encyclopaedia, be sure to check out his recently released book 'Don't Buy Fruit & Veg Without Me!' Honestly a good read and I don't read books that often. It has heaps of tips/tricks, recipes and stories that go along with it. I wasn't paid to say that but Thanh very kindly sent me a book for free. The review is all my words. 😂
We discuss:
- Who is Thanh Truong?
- How did the 'fruitnerd' start?
- Taste testing fruits every day for work
- Working as the national buyer for Coles
- Why the price of avocados plummeted and will never go up
- Where are apples stored?
- Our first memories with fruit
- Should I grow a mulberry tree?
- How different kinds of grapes are made
- Some life hacks for picking out grapes
- Tomato picking tips
- What hacks are farmers using for growing produce?
- Is the tomato a fruit or a vegetable?
- Finding alternatives for fruit/veg
- Why you should be more adventurous with trying out new produce
- What vegetables I cook with
- I try a mangosteen
- What season would Thanh be stuck in?
- How we all get our experiences from pop culture
- How Korea is overtaking Japan in popularity
- What makes Kyoho grapes so special?
- Fruit giving culture in Australia
- Appreciating the imperfections of produce
- If in Jeju Island, try the Red Hyang or Hallabong Mandarin
- Using all of our senses when picking out produce
- Mandarin choosing tips
- Experience being on Masterchef and Plate of Origin
- How changing the packaging on fruits affected sales
- Being able to tell the exact percentage of sweetness between fruits
- Asking shoppers how they look for the best produce
- How fruit will now change my travel habits
- Trying other forms of fruit, like dried
- Which fruit should you try from each Australian state?
Guest: Thanh Truong / The Fruit Nerd
Thanh's links:
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Music: aKu - The Final Blow
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