“Produce Pete,” 1945 – 2026

TV chef and consumer affairs reporter Peter Napolitano, known as Produce Pete, or Pete Your Produce Pal, died on Jan. 26. He was 80. Known throughout the East Coast, Napolitano appeared for decades on WNBC and WCAU, offering friendly, chatty advice on cooking—and buying—food. He also did commercial for Pathmark, and ran his family’s farmer’s market. The New Jersey native advised, “buy produce when it’s plentiful and cheap in the supermarket because that reflects that it’s in season and the weather is just right for it. I also recommend that people buy fresh and local…it helps our area farmers and yields a much better-tasting and more nutritious product.”