Who Gives a Fork: Recent Episodes
A podcast for people who care about food
A podcast on the trail of the people and places behind your food. Brought to you by food and farming journalists Nina Pullman and Jez Fredenburgh. Follow us at @forkpod, @nina_pullman and @overthefarmgate. Contact forkpod@gmail.com.
Is it possible to grow sustainable food for everyone? Can it be produced in a way that makes financial sense for farmers? Are we too idealistic or not enough? Do urban food "thinkers" really get the practical realities? How can technology move things forward?
We speak to Guy Singh-Watson, founder and co-owner of Riverford, one of the UK's biggest organic veg box schemes, and a pioneer in sustainable food. First, Jez and Nina kick-off with their thoughts on the Oxford Real Farming Conference - veganism, plastic and Michael Gove.
Mindfulness and farming might seem an unlikely combination. But with multiple pressures and often working alone, rural communities can be a lonely place to work and mental health can suffer as a result. Who Gives a Fork meets Lincolnshire flower farmer Matt Naylor, who tells us how mindfulness has brought new happiness to his life.
Today's food system is built around large-scale farms to provide low-cost food to as many people as possible. Who Gives a Fork talks to Olivier De Schutter, the UN's former special rapporteur on the right to food, about how it's time for a major restructure if we are going to withstand a new era of climate change volatility.
The craze for avocados has taken the world by storm, but what impact has it had in rural Colombia where farmers are switching from coffee and other less legal crops?
In the final episode in Ecuador, we hear how commercial farming of crops such as palm oil is having a huge impact on the country's incredible landscape and wildlife.
Behind the scenes at a leading Fairtrade rose producer in Ecuador, we meet grower Eduardo Letort for an insight into one of the world's best-loved flowers.
Who Gives a Fork visits Hacienda La Nueva Pubenza, a banana grower in the south of Ecuador. We take you behind the scenes and discover the link between plastic and the perfect banana.
*Stats courtesy of Banana Link and Wrap.