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Planet Money
Planet Money

How refrigeration took over the world

Sep 26, 2025 · 23m
AI Summary
  • The cold chain—end-to-end refrigeration from farm to home—enabled the modern global food system, allowing raspberries from California and steak from Nebraska to reach consumers worldwide
  • Pioneers like meat baron Gustavus Swift and chemist Polly Pennington drove refrigeration innovation that became a foundational modern achievement
  • The episode explores both the economic benefits of refrigeration and potential new problems it may have created

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