‘Produce Pete,’ a weekend mainstay for NBC New York, dies at 80 – NBC New York
NBC New York is mourning the lack of a member of our Information 4 household. “Produce Pete,” a longtime fixture of our weekend morning information, has died on the age of 80.
He was born Peter Napolitano in Bergenfield, New Jersey, in February 1945. However within the a long time to return, everybody — together with members of his family — would find yourself calling him “Produce Pete.”
For greater than 30 years, he appeared on Saturday editions of Weekend Right this moment in New York. In a enterprise that usually places a precedence on glitz and glamour, Pete made it a degree to maintain it easy.
Vegetables and fruit have been his subjects, however the soul of his work was primarily based on his life. It was a uncommon week when he didn’t speak about his early days rising up in Englewood, working as a peddler for his dad or promoting produce at his household’s retailer.
Pete helped develop Napolitano’s Produce from a small household retailer right into a New Jersey vacation spot that served clients for greater than a half century. It’s the place he discovered the teachings that stayed with him and formed the voice viewers got here to belief and love.
However nothing was larger than the love he had for his spouse, Bette. They met as youngsters and would go on to have two children and 7 grandchildren, all of whom would make appearances with “Produce Pete” over time.
Pete’s household shared him with generations of tri-state viewers — lots of whom would say that Pete was an excellent cause to rise up early, even on a Saturday.
“For greater than 30 years, WNBC viewers tuned in on Saturday mornings to observe ‘Produce Pete’ provide his fruit and greens suggestions in addition to cooking recommendations on ‘Weekend Right this moment in New York’. He was a beloved member of our station household and our viewers felt the identical manner — visiting him at our Well being Expo, our Feeding our Households Meals Drives or the numerous farmers markets throughout New Jersey the place he at all times felt proper at dwelling,” stated Amy Morris, the Senior Vice President of Information for NBC 4 New York and Telemundo 47.
In 2025, throughout an look on the TODAY Present, Pete talked proudly of his path to NBC New York.
“I come from immigrant folks. My father got here right here from Italy. No training, no nothing. After which, you already know, I acquired fortunate 35 years in the past when somebody was in my retailer and put me on a neighborhood present,” he stated.
He had been a part of our household ever since, signing off every section together with his trademark line: “In case you eat proper, you’re going to reside proper!”
Pete would turn into half of popular culture, and from the spoken phrase to the written phrase, his recommendation lives on in his books. He noticed the tri-state develop and alter, with a novel view from the airwaves, however fame and recognition by no means modified him.
He was the primary to inform anybody: simply name me “Produce Pete.”
“On behalf of all of us at WNBC, we prolong our deepest condolences to Produce Pete’s household – his beloved spouse Bette, his kids and his grandchildren,” stated Eric Lerner, the President and Normal Supervisor of NBC New York and Telemundo 47.
