Peter Napolitano, the beloved American grocer, chef, and television personality widely known as Produce Pete, has died at the age of 80. His passing, announced by NBC New York on January 26, 2026, marked the end of an era for Saturday morning television and for generations of viewers who tuned in to learn about fruits, vegetables, and healthy eating with ease and joy.
Born on February 23, 1945, in Bergenfield, New Jersey, Napolitano grew up deeply immersed in the world of fresh produce. His family’s Italian-American roots and small neighborhood market instilled in him an authentic love for fresh food and community.
As a young boy, he sold fruits and vegetables at local markets alongside his father, learning not just how to judge produce, but also how to connect with people through food.
In the early years, Napolitano helped grow Napolitano’s Produce, a seasonal stall established in 1959 that became a cherished New Jersey destination for fresh produce and friendly advice.
After taking over the business in 1970 and running it for decades, he eventually handed it to his son and watched as it remained a community staple until it closed in 2006.
His transition from market stall to television star came almost by chance in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when producers noticed his engaging style with customers and invited him to appear on local TV.
What began as short segments soon evolved into a 33-year run on WNBC’s Weekend Today in New York. On Saturday mornings, viewers across the Tri-State area eagerly anticipated his warm, informative tips on selecting, storing, and preparing seasonal produce.
Produce Pete was not just about facts and figures. His broadcasts were peppered with personal anecdotes, lessons from his early life, and that signature motto: “If you eat right, you’re going to live right!”
His approachable manner turned complex nutrition into feel-good common sense, and for many, his voice became part of weekend routines a calm, trusted presence amidst the buzz of news and lifestyle programming.
Outside the studio, Napolitano’s influence extended into the community. He authored several books, including Produce Pete’s Farmacopeia and his memoir They Call Me Produce Pete, and, with his wife Bette, co-authored In the Kitchen with Bette & Produce Pete. He taught cooking classes in department stores and spoke at schools and farmers markets, always emphasizing healthy eating and the joy of food.
His personal life reflected the same values he championed professionally. Pete met his high-school sweetheart, Bette, as a teenager; they married in 1967 and raised two children, together welcoming seven grandchildren. Family was central to his life, and many viewers felt as though they, too, knew the Napolitano family.
Tributes from colleagues, fans, and community members poured in across social media and local press, mourning the loss of a man whose authenticity, enthusiasm, and kindness reshaped how many Americans think about food. He will be remembered as a trusted guide, a cheerful educator, and a gentle, enduring presence someone who made healthy living feel both achievable and enjoyable.
Peter “Produce Pete” Napolitano’s legacy lives on in the countless kitchens he touched, the families he inspired, and the many people who learned to see produce aisles not as intimidating, but as opportunities seeds of better living planted by a humble, warm-hearted man.
