The Food Chain

When foods get famous


Listen Later

Why do some fruits and vegetables achieve superstar status, appearing on T-shirts worn by celebrities, or in tattoos adorning some of the biggest names in music? Who is behind the rise of avocados and kale, and who benefits most from their A-list status - savvy farmers, slick marketeers or health campaigners?

Emily Thomas explores whether fruit and vegetables should play the fame game: Is putting a single food on a pedestal good for consumers, producers, or the planet? Jess Loyer, from the University of Adelaide, and Lauren Westmore, from London PR firm Third City explain the potential pitfalls. Xavier Equihua, CEO of the World Avocado Organization explains how he promotes the fruit across the globe. And a small-town T-shirt maker, Bo Muller-Moore, reveals how he may have contributed to the rise and rise of kale.

Plus, why is it so much easier to create a buzz around one vegetable than an entire food group? Anna Taylor from UK healthy eating think-tank The Food Foundation, describes her uphill battle against public attitudes and the enormous advertising budgets of Big Food.

(Photo: Avocado being photographed. Credit: BBC)

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Food ChainBy BBC World Service

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

324 ratings


More shows like The Food Chain

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,601 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

895 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,054 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,455 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,798 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,745 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,039 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,091 Listeners

Health Check by BBC World Service

Health Check

90 Listeners

The Food Programme by BBC Radio 4

The Food Programme

265 Listeners

BBC Inside Science by BBC Radio 4

BBC Inside Science

408 Listeners

Science Weekly by The Guardian

Science Weekly

421 Listeners

Inside Health by BBC Radio 4

Inside Health

88 Listeners

Science In Action by BBC World Service

Science In Action

335 Listeners

Unexpected Elements by BBC World Service

Unexpected Elements

353 Listeners

All in the Mind by BBC Radio 4

All in the Mind

63 Listeners

CrowdScience by BBC World Service

CrowdScience

477 Listeners

People Fixing the World by BBC World Service

People Fixing the World

247 Listeners

Sliced Bread by BBC Radio 4

Sliced Bread

130 Listeners

Good Food by Good Food

Good Food

43 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,197 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

719 Listeners

The Bomb by BBC World Service

The Bomb

1,026 Listeners

What's Up Docs? by BBC Radio 4

What's Up Docs?

102 Listeners