Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy
    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to Good Food

    Good Food

    Difficult fruit? It’s no problem for piemaster Kate Lebo

    Ideal fruit is seen as smooth-skinned and bright-hued, a symbol of goodness, kindness, and the virtues of civilization. But not all fruit is easy. In fact, some varieties can be invasive, toxic, and downright difficult.

    • rss
    • apple-podcasts
    • spotify
    • Share
    By Evan Kleiman • Jul 30, 2021 • 9m Listen

    Ideal fruit is seen as smooth-skinned and bright-hued, a symbol of goodness, kindness, and the virtues of civilization. But not all fruit is easy. In fact, some varieties can be invasive, toxic, and downright difficult. Wheat, for example, is more explosive than gunpowder. Apricot kernels can be deadly to small children. Food writer, poet, and piemaker Kate Lebo shares obscure food history and personal stories in her new book, “Difficult Fruit.”

    The full episode

    4 of 6
    Colombian cuisine, Gullah Geechee food, difficult fruit
    1. 0:00Celebrating Colombian recipes with food stylist Mariana Velàsquez
    2. 11:51Talking Georgia coast seafood with a sixth-generation Gullah Geechee farmer
    3. 25:24Cupboard confusion: Answering kitchen’s biggest headscratchers
    4. 33:05Difficult fruit? It’s no problem for piemaster Kate LeboYou’re reading this
    5. 43:04Thai, Chinese, Japanese: Varieties of eggplant at the farmer’s market
    6. 49:20Bill Addison reviews Mama D’s Cameroonian cuisine in Boyle Heights
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Evan Kleiman

      host 'Good Food'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Laryl Garcia

      Senior Director, Good Food

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Gillian Ferguson

      Supervising Producer, Good Food

      CultureFood & DrinkBooks

    The full episode

    4 of 6
    Colombian cuisine, Gullah Geechee food, difficult fruit
    1. 0:00Celebrating Colombian recipes with food stylist Mariana Velàsquez
    2. 11:51Talking Georgia coast seafood with a sixth-generation Gullah Geechee farmer
    3. 25:24Cupboard confusion: Answering kitchen’s biggest headscratchers
    4. 33:05Difficult fruit? It’s no problem for piemaster Kate LeboYou’re reading this
    5. 43:04Thai, Chinese, Japanese: Varieties of eggplant at the farmer’s market
    6. 49:20Bill Addison reviews Mama D’s Cameroonian cuisine in Boyle Heights
    Back to Good Food