In this week’s episode, we’re diving into the world of apples with someone who lives and breathes them every single day. Our guest is Austin Fowler of Fowler Farms in upstate New York — a farm that’s been in continuous operation since 1858. That’s six generations of the Fowler family devoted to one crop, one passion, and one mission: growing apples of the highest quality.

Think about that for a moment — six generations! The Civil War was still on the horizon when the Fowler family planted their first trees. Since then, they’ve weathered depressions, recessions, blights, storms, and the constant shifting demands of consumers — and through it all, they’ve not only survived, but thrived.

Fowler Farms is known not only for honoring tradition but also for pushing innovation in apple growing. They’ve helped introduce new varieties that consumers now love, adopted cutting-edge growing practices, and built a legacy that has shaped the apple industry in New York and far beyond.

In this episode, Austin will take us into the orchard to talk about what it’s really like to grow apples in the modern era — the science, the challenges, the weather, and of course, the joy of bringing in a harvest that might end up on your kitchen table. We’ll also talk about how tastes in apples are changing, why some varieties explode in popularity while others quietly fade away, and what it means to carry a family legacy into the next generation.

So whether you’re a fan of Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, Empire, or one of the many newer apples like Snapdragon that are making waves in the produce aisle, you’ll want to stay tuned. By the end of this episode, you’ll have a new appreciation for the people, the history, and the hard work behind every single apple you bite into.

This week’s guest grows—quite literally—on tradition, innovation, and a healthy dose of southern Appalachian grit. Kirby Johnson, co-owner of Flavor 1st Growers & Packers, is based in a fertile mountain valley in Western North Carolina. What’s wild? His family’s farming roots stretch all the way back to 1798—that’s eight generations of dirt beneath their nails and produce behind their name!

Today, Flavor 1st isn’t just your neighborhood tomato grower—they handle over 30 different varieties of produce, track everything from field to fork with cutting-edge tech, and distribute across the entire Eastern Seaboard, from Florida to Boston. Kirby’s family history is rich and deep, with the best and most sustainable farming practices. You will hear his almost scientific methods for producing the best-tasting veggies in the most efficient way.

So keep listening as we uncover how a centuries-old family legacy meets 21st-century hustle, and how that helps get fresh fruits and veggies to tables across the country and beyond. Get ready for a deep dive into resilience, tech, and why Kirby’s produce mission is anything but fruitless.

On this week's show, we’re joined by Kevin and Alicia Stump, the passionate husband-and-wife duo behind Stump Farms, a family-owned urban and hydroponic farm nestled in the mountains of Hendersonville, North Carolina. Kevin and Alicia have built something extraordinary—a full-spectrum farm offering everything from microgreens, mushrooms, and produce to herbal skincare, soaps, teas, and pantry staples like jams, salsas, and all kinds of pickles. They are showing that with the smallest plot of land, you can produce just about anything you need. Get ready for a conversation about innovation, resilience, community, and sustainable farming with two people who epitomize what it means to grow big on any scale of land.