Welcome to Okracast, the SFA podcast!

Ever wonder what’s behind the revival of heirloom and heritage foods? This week, Tina Antolini takes us to Baltimore, where a small pepper called the “fish pepper” is making a comeback. The pepper’s significance stems from its racially-charged history: once favored in Baltimore’s African American community, the pepper began to wane in the early 20th century as African Americans embraced urban lifestyles. The fish pepper might have been completely forgotten were it not for the interracial collaboration of a black farmer, white chef, black historian and white historian. Listen on!

Read more about the resurrection of the fish pepper on culinary historian Michael Twitty’s website, afroculinaria.com. For the intrepid gardener, find fish pepper seeds in the Seed Savers Exchange catalogue.