Marketplace All-in-One Feeding the Family (bonus episode)
Nov 26, 2025
Elizabeth Troval, a Marketplace reporter, delves into the challenges faced by Houston’s refugee farmers due to lost USDA funding, highlighting community efforts to support them. Dylan Mietinen, a digital producer, shares the whimsical history of Jell-O, exploring its rise as an affordable treat and its role during economic hardships. The discussion also touches on modern food insecurity, with budget-friendly recipes aimed at helping families navigate cooking amidst rising ingredient costs and busy holiday schedules.
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Lab-Grown Chocolate As A Climate Hedge
- Climate change and supply shocks are pushing companies to grow foods like chocolate from cultured cells to protect supply and control flavor.
- California Cultured targets commercial partners and ingredient sales to scale lab-grown cocoa as traditional cocoa becomes scarce.
Family Lime Jell-O And Jell-O's Journey
- Dylan Mietinen recounts his grandmother's lime Jell-O dessert and Jell-O's evolution from elite aspic to mass-market staple.
- He notes Jell-O's nostalgia, wartime role, and modern artisanal revival in boutique shops.
How Jell-O Became Mass-Market Comfort
- Jell-O shifted from elite status food to an economical, aspirational product through marketing and mass production.
- It served immigrants and ration-era households, embedding itself in American culinary life.
