The “ugly produce” debate, LA Foodways, and trailblazing women

Hosted by Evan Kleiman Mar. 09, 2019 Food & Drink

Skeptical about the “ugly produce” business? Photo credit: Pete/CC 2.0, via Flickr

Two writers have gathered the stories of women who changed history through food. There’s a new documentary on how LA’s agricultural past informs its present. Patricia Escárcega returns to discuss a new “Pan-Latin” restaurant in DTLA. A crop scientist is skeptical about the “ugly produce” business, and we also explore the range of life experiences in one LA neighborhood.

From this Episode:

Reclaiming a woman’s “rightful place”

Deepi Ahluwalia and Stef Ferrari are revisiting the culinary past with fresh eyes—by centering the stories of women.

9 min

Dama is more than meets the eye

L.A. Times restaurant critic Patricia Escárcega recently visited Dama in downtown LA’s Fashion District, a Pan-Latin restaurant from chef Antonia Lofaso.

6 min

“LA Foodways” mines the past for solutions

With today’s urban sprawl, it’s easy to forget LA’s origins as a farm town.

12 min

Is the “ugly produce” movement hype or solution?

60 million tons of fruits and vegetables get thrown away in the U.S. every year, according to the USDA. Some of that produce is thrown away for cosmetic reasons, and in...

10 min

Virgil Avenue, four ways

Virgil Village is a largely Central American community near East Hollywood that’s being remade by gentrification .

10 min

Market Report: Magic Myrna Potatoes

Magic myrna potatoes are a fingerling potato from Alaska with a creamy, buttery texture. Executive chef Saw Naing is using them this time of year at Tallula 's in...

9 min