Planet Money How refrigeration took over the world
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Sep 26, 2025 Explore the fascinating evolution of refrigeration and how it's reshaped our food system. Discover the pioneering efforts of Gustavus Swift and Polly Pennington, who revolutionized meat transport and food safety. Learn how the cold chain allows for fresh produce from far-flung places and how it's transformed agriculture and labor dynamics. While discussing the benefits, the hosts also dive into refrigeration's downsides like energy use and impact on flavor. Join the conversation about how our fridges are one of modern life’s unsung heroes!
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Cathedral Of Cold Storage
- Nicola Twilley escorted Nick Fountain through a massive refrigerated warehouse the size of two football fields filled with global produce.
- She described rooms with precise microclimates that keep different fruits and vegetables in suspended animation.
Produce Lives On A Breath Count
- Refrigeration slows produce's
Swift's Meatpacking Revolution
- Gustavus Swift moved to Chicago and built giant meatpacking plants with disassembly lines to use every part of the cow.
- His centralized slaughterhouses monetized byproducts and inspired assembly-line methods.
