Food Stories

A scientific-commercial partnership has sparked research to better understand the life and death of a North Shore export.

Explore the wide array of New England food festivals including the What the Fluff? Festival, the Vermont Cheesemakers Festival, Maine's Garlic Fest, and Wellfleet Oysterfest.

Under the Radar speaks with two local ice cream shops to learn how their products are an extension of the farm-to-table culinary trends

The number of cyclospora cases in the state so far this year has increased to 147, the highest level of reports of the parasitic infection since 2019.

August 4th, 2026First up, Amherst College environmental historian Edward D. Melillo discusses the role that bird poop played in establishing America’s global dominance in the 19th century – and how it all ties back to the Strait of Hormuz. Then, we welcome back Gal Tziperman Lotan with Four Things to Know for Tuesday, August 4th. Lastly, its National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day – Edgar meets David Leite, founder of Leite's Culinaria to talk about the cookie’s local origins and how to perfect the recipe. We’ll also open up phone and text lines to hear from callers.

August 3rd, 2026 We talk with Harvard Law Professor Jacob Gersen about Nix v. Hedden, the 1893 Supreme Court that officially classified tomatoes as a vegetable in the U.S. Farmer & food sustainability expert Mitch Hagney breaks down the industrial tomato sourcing & ripening process.Scent historian Jessica Murphy talks about a recent trend of tomato-scented perfumes and soaps, and why someone would feel compelled to make themselves smell like a tomato. Mass. Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner Ashley Randle previews the 41st-annual Massachusetts Tomato Contest, and her criteria for judging the perfect tomato.

Organizers say adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are an untapped pool of talent often overlooked in the workplace.

Under the Radar culinary experts Amy Traverso and Jonathon Alsop give us the inside scoop behind the latest summer food and wine trends.

First up, we’re talking about the 80’s horror sci/fi flick C.H.U.D., with Joan Donovan & psychologist / movie critic Mike Snoonian. The term “chud” has since become slang to describe right-wing extremists, we’ll talk about what made the movie a cult classic & what made the political meme stick, 42 years later. Then, in light of the Red Socks win streak - we ask - what’s the psychology behind a winning streak? Jackie Silverman is a researcher at Vanderbilt University who’s led multiple studies on winning streaks. She joins. Lastly, we answer some listener-submitted Curiosity questions. Including one from a special friend of the show, Jim Braude! Curiosity Desk producer Rachel Armany brings us the answers.

Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration said the the Cyclospora food-borne illness outbreak is linked to supplier Taylor Farms and shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell in five states.

GBH Meteorologist Dave Epstein recently traveled to Friðheimar, to learn more about the family-run farm that uses artificial lighting to grow tomatoes in dark and cold winters.

First up, Edgar talks with ReFED Executive Director Sara Burnett and John Hopkins researcher Roni Neff about what “sell by” labels on food packages actually mean, in light of California’s ban aimed at reducing food waste. Then, we meet mentalist Tom Indigo, who reads the minds of our host Edgar and volunteer Eva Doyne.