tasteMAKERS

When Season 1 of tasteMAKERS debuted on Nine PBS in October 2018, the artisan food movement was in full swing—and it’s still going strong, gaining market share and fans. Emmy-winning producer and host Catherine Neville captured the zeitgeist five years ago and is back with the third season of her award-winning series.

Nine PBS was the presenting station of tasteMAKERS in 2018 and its Season 2 follow-up. The series, which showcases bread bakers, cheese makers, distillers, brewers, and more, is distributed nationwide through American Public Television.

Season 2’s Ramona Farms episode won the 2021 M.F.K. Fisher Prize from Les Dames d’Escoffier International, and the series was nominated for a 2021 Daytime Emmy Award.

In Season 3, Neville profiles people who approach their work with a focus on authenticity, quality, and sustainability. The six-episode new season explores the food world through the lens of innovation. From a look at sustainable seafood at an inland shrimp farm to a doctor who is peppering abandoned urban spaces with bee colonies, Cat takes viewers into the lives of makers, farmers, and chefs to discover stories that engage, educate, and inspire.

Season 4 premieres Monday, April 1, at 7:30 pm  on Nine PBS and livestream.

Episodes air Mondays at 7:30 pm, Tuesdays at 1:30 pm, Thursdays at 10:30 pm, Saturdays at 6:30 pm, and Sundays at 11:30 am on Nine PBS and livestream. 

Watch new episodes and previous seasons below or on the PBS App. 

Season 4 Episodes

Adam Puchta Winery | April 1

Founded in 1855, Adam Puchta Winery is the oldest, continuously owned family farmed winery in the U.S. Seven generations have worked the land in the American Viticultural Area of Hermann, MO. In this episode, you’ll meet Parker Puchta, who, after his father’s sudden passing, helms the historic winery. Today, he is building a legacy for his own son and the generations to come.

Yoli Tortilleria | April 8

In this episode, you’ll meet a woman born and raised in Sonora, Mexico, who is honoring her history while crafting James Beard-winning flour and corn tortillas in the heartland. At Yoli Tortilleria, Kansas City, MO, they use local ingredients and traditional techniques like nixtamalization, where dried corn is cooked and soaked in an alkaline solution, creating masa, the dough that’s pressed into corn tortillas.

Foeder Crafters of America | April 18

Foeders (pronounced FOOD-er) have been used to store and age beverages for centuries. They are traditional, large-scale wooden casks typically used to age beer, but can be used for wine and spirits as well. At St. Louis-based Foeder Crafters of America, they handcraft these massive barrels out of Missouri white oak, customizing each one for makers across the globe, from Japan to St. Louis.

StilL 630 | April 22

In the shadow of the Gateway Arch, Dave Weglarz, a river-guide-turned-bonds-trader-turned distiller is hard at work, handcrafting Missouri bourbon, rum, brandy, and thoroughly unique botanical-forward gins that have been ranked among the top spirits in the country.

Castor River Farms | April 29

Rice is one of the most widely cultivated crops in the world, and most rice is grown using a massive amount of water. At Castor River Farms, Dexter, MO, they sow the rice directly into the soil and focus on regenerative practices to care for the soil above all else. No tilling, no burning, no flooding, no chemicals; cover crops are key to this unique farm’s approach.

Askinosie Chocolate | May 9

At the heart of Springfield, MO-based Askinosie Chocolate’s mission, aside from hand crafting bean-to-bar chocolate, is the desire to impact the lives of cacao farmers across the globe. Through direct trade, the team at Askinosie is helping to create economic opportunities for farmers, who are seen as not simply suppliers, but partners.

The schedule is subject to change.