Know Your Food

In this episode of Know Your Food, we sit down with Martin Ping, longtime executive at Hawthorne Valley Association, to explore how decades of community-centered work, biodynamic farming, and deep relationship-building have shaped one of the Hudson Valley’s most enduring food and education hubs. Hawthorne Valley’s influence stretches from regenerative agriculture to farm-based learning and vibrant...

In this episode of Know Your Food, we sit down with three people at the heart of New York’s regional grain renaissance: Heidi Dolnick of Unified Mills, Makayla Bunce of Farmer Ground Flour, and Thor Oechsner of Oechsner Farms. Together, they unpack why real flour begins long before the millstones start spinning. We explore what makes local grains different: how regenerative farming strengthens soi...

In this episode of Know Your Food, Tivoli Mushrooms farm director Cory Nellisen joins us to share his path from experimenting with fungi in a garage to managing daily operations at one of New York’s leading mushroom farms. We explore the realities of mushroom cultivation—balancing the science of mycology with production demands, the patience it takes to keep mushrooms thriving year-round, and how...

In this episode of Know Your Food , we sit down with Simon Ziegler, co-founder of Sun Sprout Farms, to explore how a lifelong passion for growing food—and a commitment to ecological stewardship—has shaped one of the Hudson Valley’s most trusted organic produce distributors. Sun Sprout connects small farms to the restaurants, markets, and communities that rely on them, making local food accessible...

 In this episode of  Know Your Food , Sarela Herrada, co-founder of Simpli, joins us live in Brooklyn to talk about how her roots in Peru—and her career in mission-driven food—led her to build a pantry brand that’s anything but ordinary. Simpli sources beautiful beans and grains directly from smallholder farmers in Latin America, prioritizing transparency, traceability, and equity every step of th...

In this episode of  Know Your Food , Hannah Cheng, co-founder of Mimi Cheng’s, joins us live in Brooklyn to share how she left a career in finance to follow a dream: opening a dumpling shop with her sister. What started as a family recipe has since become a New York City favorite—and now a growing retail brand bringing bold, unexpected flavors to the frozen aisle. We get into how Mimi Cheng’s blen...

Qiana Mickie, a policy strategist, food justice advocate, and longtime New Yorker, joins us to talk about what it really means to build an equitable food system—from the ground up. As the inaugural Executive Director of NYC’s Office of Urban Agriculture, Qiana is reshaping how city government engages with land, food, and the people most impacted by systemic inequities. Drawing from years of grassr...

In this episode, we sit down with Nialls Fallon and Leah Campbell—two-thirds of the team behind Minnow, a tinned seafood brand born from New York’s dynamic restaurant scene. As the minds behind beloved spots like Hart’s, Cervo’s, The Fly, and an upcoming oyster bar, they share how their passion for seafood and hospitality inspired them to launch Minnow’s thoughtfully sourced line of tinned fish an...

In this episode of Know Your Food , mushroom farmer and psilocybin advocate Avery Stempel—founder of Collar City Mushroom s in Troy, NY—joins us live in Brooklyn for a conversation on the power of fungi to transform food, health, and community. We get into how mushrooms are redefining urban agriculture, why Avery is pushing for psilocybin legalization in New York State, and how mycelium offers a m...

Writer and cultural critic Alicia Kennedy joins us live in Brooklyn for a wide-ranging conversation on food, media, and the systems that shape what—and how—we eat. We talk about the tension between personal choice and structural barriers to cooking, the role of food journalism in the climate crisis, and the rise of plant-based products backed by Big Food. Alicia also shares her perspective on what...

John Ng, founder of Hudson Valley Fisheries, joins us live to unpack the art and science of sustainable aquaculture in the heart of the Hudson Valley. He walks us through how his farm produces flavorful, responsibly raised fish that stand toe-to-toe with their wild-caught cousins—without the environmental catch. Beyond the fish tank, John shares his innovative twist: turning water runoff and farm...

Reenie Karim, a Brooklyn-based chef, food writer, and pop-up host, joins us to talk about how reconnecting with ingredients can change the way we cook—and eat. Raised in the South by Bangladeshi parents, Reenie blends her heritage and upbringing into dishes that challenge expectations and celebrate complexity. Through her pop-up series, Reenie’s, she explores how food can be both deeply personal a...

Sarah Magid, founder of Knead Love Bakery, joins us live in Brooklyn to share how her search for baked goods that actually tasted good—and felt good—led her to start baking differently. What began as a personal frustration turned into a thriving, ingredient-driven bakery rooted in nutrition, sourcing integrity, and real flavor. We talk about how she crafts nutrient-dense, sourdough-style sweets us...

In this episode of  Know Your Food , we sit down with Rick Osofosky, co-owner of Ronnybrook Farm, a third-generation dairy farm in the Hudson Valley known for its commitment to animal welfare, minimal processing, and quality over scale. We dig into the realities of running a small-scale dairy today, including the pressures of consolidation, the hidden costs of distribution, and the key differences...

In this episode of Know Your Food, Marion Nestle—nutritionist, author, molecular biologist, and public health advocate—joins us to reveal how powerful food industry lobbying, marketing, and policy shape what ends up on our plates—and often work against public health. We dive into how nutrition science gets distorted by corporate interests, why ultra-processed foods dominate grocery shelves, and ho...

In this episode of Know Your Food, Ethan Frisch, co-founder of Burlap & Barrel, joins us live in Brooklyn to unpack the global spice trade and what it takes to build truly equitable supply chains. We dive into how most spices on supermarket shelves are stale, commodified, and disconnected from their origins, and how Burlap & Barrel is changing that by working directly with smallholder farm...

In this episode of Know Your Food , journalist Chloe Sorvino—author of Raw Deal Hidden Corruption, Corporate Greed, and the Fight for the Future of Meat —joins us live in Brooklyn to expose the hidden power of the chicken industry. We get into how Tyson reversed its antibiotic-free policy, how meat industry consolidation threatens public health and the climate, and why Costco’s $4.99 rotisserie ch...