Riverford founder to guest on BBC Desert Island Discs

A true revolutionary veg nerd, Guy Singh-Watson has spent the last 30 years taking Riverford from one man and a wheelbarrow delivering homegrown organic veg to friends, to a national veg box scheme making 50,000 deliveries a week.

On Sunday 1st July, he’ll be talking about the remarkable story behind Riverford and his life in organic food and farming with presenter Kirsty Young on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs.

Guy decided to sell direct to customers through the now iconic Riverford veg box after being poorly treated by unscrupulous supermarket buyers and wholesalers in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. In contrast to this, ethical treatment of the fellow farmers who supply Riverford has been baked into the business’ values from the start.

“So many people find Riverford and Guy incredibly inspiring.

"The success of the business shows what determination and belief in a better way of doing things can bring - that you can be an ethical business and be commercially effective. Many of our customers say Riverford vegetables are not just food, that they represent hope for a better food system for all.

"We are delighted that the Riverford story will reach more people through this wonderful invitation,” says Rachel Lovell, Head of Content at Riverford.

Guy Singh-Watson will be a guest on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs on Sunday 1st July at 11.15am.

It will be repeated Friday 6th July at 9am, and will be available on BBC iPlayer.