A beloved American food TV star is gone too soon. NBC New York’s Steven Bogner took to X on Monday, January 26 to make a somber announcement about the loss of a beloved news mainstay. He wrote, “Sad news to share from the NBC New York family … Produce Pete has passed away at 80. His warmth, kindness and love for his work will be missed by all of us.”
Produce Pete, whose full name is Pete Napolitano, regularly appeared on the station for many years, becoming a fan-favorite and sharing his passion for fruits and vegetables. The loss comes seven months after the death of another beloved television chef, Anne Burrell, who passed away at 55.
Two months before his death, Pete cancelled a planned appearance, but didn’t say why. His cause of death does not appear to be publicly known at this time.
NBC New York Honored ‘Produce Pete’ With an Instagram Tribute After His Death at 80
On the evening of January 26, NBC New York wrote on Instagram, “NBC New York is mourning the loss of a member of our News 4 family. ‘Produce Pete,’ a longtime fixture of our weekend morning news, has died at the age of 80.
For more than 30 years, he appeared on Saturday editions of Weekend Today in New York. In a business that often puts a priority on glitz and glamour, Pete made it a point to keep it simple.”
They ended the post by memorializing the star’s iconic line, “If you eat right, you’re going to live right!”
Fans flooded the comments of the post with their own tributes. One wrote, “Oh no!! I loved watching Produce Pete!! And Betty would always make a dish from what ever fruit or vegetable he was spotlighting. RIP, Pete. And thank you!”
Another wrote, “Loved him each Saturday for years he was priceless and will be missed.”
“Such sad news I loved watching his broadcasts always very informative RIP sir you will be missed,” wrote someone else.
Produce Pete’s Final Instagram Post: Cancelled Appearance 2 Months Before Death
In the last Instagram post he shared before his death, Produce Pete celebrated Thanksgiving with a shot of himself sitting at a table slicing into a pile of scrumptious looking pomegranates. Behind him was a beautiful Christmas tree and other decorations.
After wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving in the caption, he apologized that his planned appearance at Red Mill Christmas in Clinton, NJ would be cancelled.
