The Lewellings: Icon of Napa Valley (Part 5) - The History of Fresh Produce

What happens when your orchards begin to rot, your industry collapses, and California starts beating you at your own game? If you're Seth Lewelling, you plant harder - and you get political with your cherries.In this episode, John and Patrick trace the dramatic unraveling of Oregon’s once-thriving fruit economy and the quiet resilience of Seth Lewelling, whose visionary grafting experiments - including the boldly named Black Republican cherry - became acts of agricultural resistance. As Oregon wilted, California soared, and the Lewellings were right there at the epicenter of both decline and rebirth.From rootstock innovations to golden-skinned prunes, from nursery collapses to bank-led agricultural reform, and from Spiritualist love stories to raisin kilns and winegrowers’ clubs - this is the story of a family (and a fruit industry) constantly reinventing itself in the face of loss, change, and opportunity.Join John and Patrick as they explore how Seth and John Lewelling didn’t just adapt to the changing tides of 19th-century horticulture - they helped shape them, transforming Pacific agriculture and leaving a legacy that would reach far beyond the orchard rows.----------In Sponsorship with Cornell University: Dyson Cornell SC Johnson College of Business-----------Join the History of Fresh Produce Club for ad-free listening, bonus episodes, book discounts and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Support us!Share this episode with your friendsGive a 5-star ratingWrite a review -----------Subscribe to our biweekly newsletter here for extra stories related to recent episodes, book recommendations, a sneak peek of upcoming episodes and more.-----------Step into history - literally! Now is your chance to own a pair of The History of Fresh Produce sneakers. Fill out the form here and get ready to walk through the past in style.-----------Instagram, TikTok, Threads:@historyoffreshproduceEmail: [email protected]