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 farmers around the world. From Afghan wild cumin to Zanzibar black pepper, we explore what makes a spice worth knowing and how sourcing can be both transparent and delicious.

If you care about flavor, fair trade, and the hidden labor behind your pantry staples, this is a conversation you’ll want to hear.

This conversation was recorded live as part of our Know Your Food event series at our warehouse in Bushwick. Keep up with our mission to support regenerative agriculture and slowly change how New York eats. Follow us for exclusive updates, future events, and more on Instagram at @farmtopeople—and visit farmtopeople.com to learn more about how you can get the farmers market delivered to your door.