error code: 524
Pete Napolitano, also known as “Produce Pete”.
Credit :
Pete Napolitano/Facebook
NEED TO KNOW
- Beloved television personality Peter Napolitano has died after more than 30 years on air
- Napolitano, better known as “Produce Pete,” was 80
- NBC New York announced his death as tributes poured in on social media
Peter Napolitano, famed New York City television personality widely recognized as “Produce Pete,” has passed away at the age of 80 after over three decades on the air. His death was confirmed on Monday, January 26, by NBC New York, which described him as “a member of our News 4 family” and “a longtime fixture of our weekend morning news.”
As of this report, a specific cause of death has not been disclosed.
Pete Napolitano, also known as Produce Pete.
Pete Napolitano/Facebook
“For more than 30 years, WNBC viewers tuned in on Saturday mornings to watch ‘Produce Pete’ offer his fruit and vegetable recommendations as well as cooking tips on Weekend Today in New York,” stated Amy Morris, Senior Vice President of News for NBC 4 New York and Telemundo 47. “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.”
His passing has generated an outpouring of tributes on social media, with fans sharing their condolences on his final Instagram post from November 27, 2025. One user remarked, “Thanks for the chill Saturday mornings learning about produce. Thanks for teaching us if we eat right we’re going to live right. RIP Pete.” Another fan wrote, “It won’t be Saturday or Sunday morning without his smiling face. To his family, thank you for sharing this wonderful man with the whole tri-state area and beyond. He will be sorely missed.”
The last photo Napolitano shared featured him slicing pomegranates in a room adorned with a Christmas tree, where he conveyed Thanksgiving wishes and previews for his upcoming segment.
“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,” expressed Steven Bognar, managing editor at NBC New York, alongside a photo of Napolitano holding grapes.
Born in 1945 in Bergenfield, N.J., Napolitano was a grocer and chef who eventually became a celebrated television personality.
Pete Napolitano, also known as “Produce Pete”.
Pete Napolitano/Facebook
Napolitano attributed much of his success to his family, particularly his mother, who inspired his early ventures in produce sales. He recounted how she recognized an opportunity in an empty lot and encouraged her husband to sell watermelons to earn extra income while he worked his bus routes. Napolitano reflected, “When people say to me that my father had a great business, I smile and think, if it wasn’t for mom, who knows what would have been. Produce Pete may never have existed. Thanks, Mom!”
