The Fresh Produce Journal Podcast

The Middle East, resilience and the future of UK fresh produce

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:26:21 GMT

In this episode, Nina is joined by the chair of the NFU’s Horticulture and Potatoes Board, Martin Emmett, to discuss the government’s Horticulture Sector Plan, fears around standing charges and the new SPS deal with the EU.

FPJ’s Tom Joyce also swings by the studio to analyse the potential impact of the Middle East conflict on the fresh produce industry and longer-term significance for resilience in the sector in the face of turbulent geopolitics.

About our sponsor:

This episode of the Fresh Produce Journal Podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Association of Moroccan Nadorcott Producers (APNM).

Proud of the exceptional quality of the Nadorcott mandarin grown in Morocco, the grower-members of the Association of Moroccan Nadorcott Producers (APNM) are committed to offering their customers a mandarin with an exceptional taste, and to guaranteeing the consistency of its visual and taste characteristics throughout the season.

APNM’s mission is to promote the variety internationally. This development involves the implementation of actions and a strategy common to all producers, aimed at establishing and enhancing the reputation of the Nadorcott of Morocco worldwide.

Articles relevant to this episode:

Iran conflict could raise fertiliser prices
Middle East conflict threatens European exports

Don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss a show.

To find out how to sponsor the Fresh Produce Journal Podcast, email us at podcasts@fruitnet.com

The Fresh Produce Journal Podcast is produced and presented by Nina Pullman for Fruitnet Media International. It is part of the Fruitnet Podcast Network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fruit delays, AI fears and why mascots should take to the streets

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:27:41 GMT

Nina Pullman is joined by Eurofruit deputy editor Carl Collen to digest the gossip and goings on at this year's Fruit Logistica in Berlin.

After fruit was held up due to winter storms and port operations, which exporters are now considering court action? Why are some tech companies telling us AI is going too fast? And has the fresh produce industry finally clocked that sampling and theatrical marketing might be the best way to engage consumers, at trade events, but also on the streets?

Fruit Logistica is an intense few days, filled with meetings and post-show networking. But the conversations on the show floor offer a glimpse into major talking points for the industry for this year and beyond. Following interviews with sector leaders throughout the week, Nina and Carl take stock of the major talking points and share their insights to make sense of it all.

Don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss a show.

To find out how to sponsor the Fresh Produce Journal Podcast, email us at podcasts@fruitnet.com

The Fresh Produce Journal Podcast is produced and presented by Nina Pullman for Fruitnet Media International. It is part of the Fruitnet Podcast Network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can fresh produce make the most of a new era in health?

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 05:45:00 GMT

As weight loss jabs take off and the government and retailers begin to respond, what is the fresh produce industry doing to make the most of the step change in health?

Dan Parker, CEO of the Veg Power campaign, joins Nina Pullman to explore how can fruit and veg benefit from a once-in-a-lifetime disruption to junk food sales, thanks to the rise of GLP-1 medication. Plus: how can the industry focus on growth at a time when margins and costs threaten business viability, and why are the stars aligning for fresh produce and health marketing in 2026?

FPJ editor Fred Searle and Nina Pullman introduce this week’s episode by discussing health marketing efforts past and present, and ask how can the industry connect with the cultural and policy shift in the conversational around health?

Articles discussed in this episode:

Junk food advertising restrictions come into force
Focus on fibre brings fruit and veg into spotlight
Analysis: A new era for appetite (subscribers only)

Don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode.

To find out how to sponsor the Fresh Produce Journal Podcast, email us at podcasts@fruitnet.com.

The Fresh Produce Journal Podcast is produced and presented by Nina Pullman for Fruitnet Media International. It is part of the Fruitnet Podcast Network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the scenes of the FPJ Big 50 Companies

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 11:23:02 GMT

Nina, Fred and Michael dissect this year's exclusive FPJ Big 50 Companies ranking of the UK's biggest fresh produce companies. Who came out top? Who were the biggest risers and fallers? And what surprising new entries made the list?

The team also share behind the scenes insights from poring over Companies House accounts and reveal the decisions, cross-referencing and hours of scrutiny that go into making this unique industry publication.

More info:

Subscribers can read the FPJ Big 50 Companies in print or via the App. To buy a copy for £25, you can email subscriptions@fruitnet.com.

Don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss a show.

To find out how to sponsor the Fresh Produce Journal Podcast, email us at podcasts@fruitnet.com

The Fresh Produce Journal Podcast is produced and presented by Nina Pullman for Fruitnet Media International. It is part of the Fruitnet Podcast Network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mergers, acquisitions and American ownership

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 15:30:50 GMT

With big recent acquisitions like the sale of Burgess Farms and Natures Way Foods, Nina, Michael and Fred discuss whether companies are running out of options to find capital funding and ask what further consolidation could mean for the future of fresh produce?

Plus: how the recent Autumn budget will impact the fruit and veg industry.

More info about this episode

Read the following articles about the M&A deals discussed in this episode:

Burgess Farms sale

Natures Way Foods sale

Delifresh acquisition by Musgrave

Greencore & Bakkavor deal

Don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss a show.

To find out how to sponsor the Fresh Produce Journal Podcast, email us at podcasts@fruitnet.com

The Fresh Produce Journal Podcast is produced and presented by Nina Pullman for Fruitnet Media International. It is part of the Fruitnet Podcast Network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mailbag: Vertical farming, food surplus and EAT-Lancet

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Is it the end of the line for vertical farming? Does Tesco really deserve its accolade for support of British topfruit? And how can produce companies be supported to donate more surplus? Nina Pullman and Michael Barker answer a tough line up of listener questions in this latest episode.

Plus, Hollywood meets fresh produce as Michael grabs five minutes with US actor Tiffani Thiessen, star of sitcoms including Beverly Hills 90210 and Saved by the Bell, at the Global Produce & Floral Show to chat about her work with salad brand Fresh Express, her tales of balancing a good diet with a TV lifestyle and why eating healthy needs to be more fun.

More info about this episode

EAT-Lancet puts fresh produce at heart of diets: read the article.

Vertical Future in administration as losses widen: read the article.

Don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss a show.

You can also follow Fresh Produce Journal on LinkedIn for our video clips, and download the FPJ app for the best listening experience

We’d love to hear from you!

You can email us at podcasts@fruitnet.com.

The Fresh Produce Journal Podcast is produced and presented by Nina Pullman for Fruitnet Media International. It is part of the Fruitnet Podcast Network. Find out more at fruitnet.com/fresh-produce-journal/podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apples, pears and Amazon's next move

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Retail expert Karen Green joins Nina Pullman to analyse news that Amazon is closing its physical ‘Fresh’ stores and ask: what will the online giant do next in produce and how might this affect suppliers? Plus, Karen gives her view on current and future retail trends, including how to navigate food inflation, why Tesco is nailing it on all tiers of produce and whether the UK shopper is ready for ultra quick delivery.

Talking of Tesco, the retailer has just won Retailer of the Year for best supporter of British apples and pears at the sector’s official launch event. To discuss the upcoming season, Nina is joined by FPJ colleagues Fred Searle and Tom Joyce to hear how the topfruit sector is feeling, how a high quality European crop in Poland and Belgium could impact UK topfruit sales, and whether seasonality is still relevant in such a mature category. The trio also consider the more unusual ways of promoting apples, from Pink Lady tattoos to seasoning pigs' feet.

We want your questions!

In our next episode, Nina, Fred and Michael will be taking questions from our listeners. Ask us anything about FPJ, the industry, a global market covered by Fruitnet’s sister titles or a specific category…

To submit a question, you can:

Send us a voice note via this link
Email us at podcasts@fruitnet.com, with the subject: FPJ podcast mailbag
Send us a message on LinkedIn

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a show. You can also download the FPJ app for the best listening experience.

The Fresh Produce Journal Podcast is produced and presented by Nina Pullman for Fruitnet Media International. It is part of the Fruitnet Podcast Network. Find out more at www.fruitnet.com/fresh-produce-journal/podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Murray, Albert Bartlett and the spud that scored an ace

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 04:51:43 GMT

In this episode, host Nina Pullman speaks to John Hicks, director of brand and marketing for potato supplier Albert Bartlett, to get the lowdown on the company’s new deal with tennis legend Andy Murray. What does it take to sign a household name? Could produce brands be more ambitious with seeking celebrity partners? And how does brand marketing help boost an overall category? Listen for a fascinating and rare insight into one of the most proactive brands in produce.

Elsewhere, Nina is joined by Michael Barker for a wider discussion on the role of celebrities in fruit and veg, mulling over some of the biggest wins in recent years, and revealing their own celebrity fruit and veg wish-list if money was no object.

More info about this episode

This episode comes with a recommendation for a fellow farming industry podcast… Meet the Farmers is a weekly podcast sharing the personal stories of farmers from the UK and around the world. A different farmer is profiled each week and the show is hosted by rural podcaster Ben Eagle, founder of RuralPod Media. Ben talks with farmers about their journeys, challenges, and perspectives on key farming topics and issues.

Meet the Farmers is one of the longest standing farming podcasts around, having started in 2016. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and available on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast providers.

We’d love to hear from you!

You can email us at podcasts@fruitnet.com.

Subscribe to The Fresh Produce Journal Podcast and follow us on LinkedIn for our video clips. You can also listen via the FPJ App.

The Fresh Produce Journal Podcast is produced and presented by Nina Pullman for Fruitnet Media International. It is part of the Fruitnet Podcast Network. Find out more at fruitnet.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beyond the FPJ Big 50: Are people really buying more fruit and veg?

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 09:05:55 GMT

From mango to mange tout, sales of fruit and veg are thriving, with the category reaching £14bn in sales for the first time ever last year. But while inflation is a big driver, it is far from the only explanation. Fresh Produce Journal Podcast host Nina Pullman is joined by Michael Barker and Fred Searle to lift the lid on what’s really happening in the category, charting the risers and fallers in the latest FPJ Big 50 Products, the definitive list of the top-selling fruit and veg.

Plus: what does the government’s new food strategy mean for fruit and veg sales? And is Joe Wicks’ recent post about expensive healthy food a sign of wider consumer discontent about rising prices?

More info…

Want to read the FPJ Big 50 Products? Subscribers to the magazine can find it through the FPJ App on the App Store or Google Play. For anyone else, copies are available for sale – email podcasts@fruitnet.com.

Don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss a show, and follow us on LinkedIn.

You can also download the FPJ App for a premium listening experience.

For sponsorship or advertising opportunities, visit the FPJ Podcast page.

The Fresh Produce Journal Podcast is produced and presented by Nina Pullman for Fruitnet Media International. It is part of the Fruitnet Podcast Network.

Artwork by Simon Spreckley and Mai Luong for Fruitnet. For more great content that can help you grow your business, visit fruitnet.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming soon: The Fresh Produce Journal Podcast

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:02:32 GMT

News, views and the inside scoop from the FPJ journalists reporting on the UK fruit and veg industry, hosted by Nina Pullman.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.