Our newest American federal holiday has arrived, and people all over the country are celebrating and honoring it in their own ways. Its only the third year that Juneteenth has been nationally recognized, but its gaining attention and growing in scope, especially within the culinary community.

The holiday commemorates the events of June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned from Union soldiers that they were free, two years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. While it was first celebrated in Texas, its now a nationwide opportunity to gather in community and celebrate both traditional and new takes on food thats important to the Black community.

We spoke with Black chefs to find out how they honor the holiday with food, and heres what they had to say.

Martel Stone: Remember, honor and cook plenty of greens.

For me, Juneteenth is a holiday with so much room for exploration, said Martel Stone , the chef and CEO of The Black Supper Collective, an initiative to connect Black chefs from around the world and provide them with a platform for self-expression.

It wasnt until Juneteenth became a mainstream holiday that it garnered many peoples attention, he said. Now its acknowledged in many places, including clothing stores, book shops and supermarkets all filled with discounted specials intentionally catered to satiate assumed Black cravings.