‘Produce Pete’ Peter Napolitano passes away at 80

Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of death.

Peter Napolitano, a renowned and beloved TV personality, has passed away. He was 80 at the time of his passing. The cause of his passing has not been disclosed to the public yet. He was best known for his weekly segments on TV about vegetable and fruit produce on ‘Weekend Today in New York.’

Peter Napolitano passes away at 80

The news of his passing was confirmed by NBC New York on January 26 by senior VP Amy Morris. Her statement read, “For more than 30 years, WNBC viewers tuned in on Saturday mornings to watch ‘Produce Pete’ offer his fruit and vegetables recommendations as well as cooking tips on ‘Weekend Today in New York’. He was a beloved member of our station family, and our viewers felt the same way - visiting him at our Health Expo, our Feeding our Families Food Drives, or the many farmers markets across New Jersey where he always felt right at home.”

Steven Bognar, the managing editor of the channel, also shared a post on his social media, remembering the beloved chef. He wrote, “His warmth, kindness and love for his work will be missed by all of us.”

Tributes pour in for ‘Produce Pete’

Netizens took to their social media accounts after the news was announced to pay tribute to the TV legend. One person’s comment read, “Oh no! This is so sad. Rest in peace, produce Pete”, while another shared, “Always enjoyed his tips and advice. Rest in Peace, Produce Pete.” Another social media user posted a tribute about Napolitano, citing that “Thanks for the chill Saturday mornings learning about produce. Thanks for teaching us if we eatright we’re going to live right RIP Pete.”

All you need to know about Peter Napolitano

Napolitano was born on February 23, 1945, in an Italian-American family in New Jersey. From an early age, because of his family’s farmer’s market, he was involved with food extensively. In the future, he turned into a professional chef and grocer, and led a lot of shows about food and produce. He was lovingly known by the moniker ‘Produce Pete.’

He was also known for his trademark catchphrase during the morning TV segments where he would say “If you eat right, you’re going to live right!”

He appeared in various TV segments and shows online throughout his career as a famed TV personality over the span of 33 years. He is known for his shows 'Produce Pete's Farmacopeia: From Apples to Zucchini', and 'Everything in Between.' He had also worked on two books titled 'They Call Me Produce Pete' and ' In the Kitchen with Bette & Produce Pete.'

He is survived by his wife, Bette Napolitano, whom he met when they were both teenagers, and would also often appear in his segments on TV. They tied the knot in 1967, and during their time together, had two children and seven grandchildren.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”