Vegetables by Bayer promotes ‘Mind Your Melon podcast series

With rising operation costs, changing weather, evolving crop conditions and fluctuating markets, farmers face a tremendous amount of stress every day – all while supporting their families and keeping the farm thriving for generations to come.

So, when problems pop up, they can quickly get overwhelming. To help educate farmers about mental health and the importance of taking proactive steps to mitigate their stress before it becomes overwhelming, Vegetables by Bayer is promoting a special podcast series, “Mind Your Melon,” to coincide with Mental Health Awareness month this May.

Mind Your Melon’s first initiative will feature three episodes on The Produce Mom’s podcast that tackle various facets of mental health and well-being. The first episode addresses the significant impact farm stress can make. Guest Marshal Sewell shares how his fifth-generation, fruit and vegetable farm family dealt with the passing of his dad after a devastating crop loss. Sewell, who is also the U.S. Open Field strategic Accounts and Partners manager at Vegetables by Bayer, came up with the idea for the podcast to help generate awareness for the issue.

“What happened to my family sent me on a journey to find ways we can all manage and mitigate stress during difficult times – not only on the farm, but in our everyday lives, too,” said Sewell. “Mind Your Melon is one way we can help share some proactive choices anyone can make to be better prepared to take on those challenging times when they hit. It can be as simple as taking some quiet time in the morning for yourself before the day starts or eating nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables, so your mind and body operate at top performance together.”

Each podcast features interviewer Lori Taylor, host of The Produce Moms. As Taylor talks with each guest, she reinforces the importance of fruits and vegetables and their role in our mental and physical health.

Episodes feature:

• Marshal Sewell tells his personal story of farm-stress and mental health
• Dr. Chris Mohr, PhD RD discusses nutrition and exercise links to mental health
• Dr. Monique Aucoin ND shares how the food we eat impacts our mood

“Mental health and well-being can be a difficult subject to talk about, yet it’s one of the most important conversations people can have,” said Jenny Maloney, Strategic Accounts Lead for North America, Vegetables by Bayer. “Mind Your Melon is a great way to bring those conversations to the forefront and share some unique perspectives. Vegetables by Bayer is extremely proud to sponsor the series, of Marshal’s courageous passion for the cause, and of the tremendous support throughout the fruit and vegetables industry that this effort has received along the way.”

Mind Your Melon podcasts will air each Wednesday of the first three Wednesdays in May. To listen to each episode, visit The Produce Moms. To learn more about Mind Your Melon, visit www.MindYourMelon.org.