Fisher & Farmer is a literary food publication that also sells provisions, runs community programmes, and operates a charitable foundation. These activities are complementary, but they are not interchangeable. The guidelines below exist to protect the integrity of each — and the trust of anyone who reads, buys from, or participates in what we do.
We subscribe to the ethics code developed by the Association of Food Journalists and expect all contributors to be familiar with it. The principles below address the specific tensions that arise from our structure.
The editorial–commerce wall
Fisher & Farmer publishes editorial content across five pillars (Agenda, Afield, Library, Living, Provisions) and operates a shopfront selling food, drink, and goods from producers in our regions. These are separate functions with a shared audience, and we treat them accordingly.
Editorial staff do not take direction from the commercial side of the business. A producer's presence in our shop has no bearing on whether, when, or how they appear in editorial content. A decision to stock a product is a buying decision; a decision to write about a producer is an editorial decision. They are made by different people using different criteria.
When we write about a product or producer that we also sell, we disclose the commercial relationship clearly — typically with a note at the foot of the piece. We do not obscure or minimise these connections. Readers can assume that if no disclosure appears, no commercial relationship exists.
Shop content with a transactional purpose — product descriptions, tasting notes written for the shop, seasonal gift guides — is clearly distinguished from editorial features through labelling and placement. We do not dress up catalogue copy as journalism.
Independence and impartiality
Our editorial staff and contributors are held to a straightforward standard: write what is true and interesting, not what is advantageous.
We do not grant editorial consideration in exchange for advertising, sponsorship, or access. If a story receives commercial support of any kind, that support is disclosed prominently. We do not allow sponsors or advertisers to preview, approve, or alter editorial content before publication.
We do not accept payment for editorial coverage. Press trips, hosted meals, gifted products, and similar courtesies are disclosed in the relevant piece. Where possible, we pay our own way. Where that is not possible — and in food and travel journalism, it is sometimes not possible — we say so.
The Foundation and Fieldwork programmes
The Fisher & Farmer Foundation supports conservation, education, and community development in our three regions. Our Fieldwork programmes — including the seafood apprenticeship scheme, Field School, Salmon School, and community initiatives — sit under the Amainiris Group alongside the publication.
Foundation and Fieldwork activities may generate editorial stories, and we actively want them to. But coverage is not guaranteed, is not controlled by programme staff, and is subject to the same editorial standards as any other story. An apprentice profiled in the publication has the same right to fair and accurate representation as any other subject.
When we cover our own programmes, we are transparent about the relationship. We name Fisher & Farmer as the operator or funder. We do not present our initiatives as though we discovered them at arm's length.
We do not use editorial coverage as a fundraising tool. The publication may report on the Foundation's work, but it does not function as the Foundation's marketing department. Appeals for donations, event promotion, and campaign materials are clearly identified as such.
Community programmes and the people in them
Several of our programmes work with communities that include vulnerable individuals — young apprentices, participants in autism-friendly initiatives, children in school meal programmes. We apply particular care in these contexts.
We obtain informed consent before identifying individuals in editorial content, and we explain clearly where and how the material will appear. For participants under eighteen, we obtain consent from a parent or guardian.
We do not instrumentalise people's stories. A profile of an apprentice is not a marketing asset for the apprenticeship scheme. We aim to represent people as they are, not as illustrations of our programmes' success.
We respect the right to withdraw. If a subject asks us to remove or amend content about them, we consider the request seriously and respond promptly, even where we are not legally obliged to comply.
Working across three jurisdictions
Fisher & Farmer publishes from and about the American South, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. These regions operate under different legal frameworks for press regulation, defamation, data protection, advertising standards, and consumer rights.
We comply with the applicable law in each jurisdiction — not merely with the most permissive standard available to us. In practice, this means we often default to the stricter standard, particularly on matters of privacy and data protection where EU and UK regulations apply.
Contributors working in Ireland and the UK should be aware that defamation law differs materially from US norms and that the Press Council of Ireland and IPSO (UK) codes apply to relevant content. Contributors are expected to familiarise themselves with the standards that apply in their region.
Sourcing and accuracy
We rely on primary sources: direct interviews, court records, government data, academic research, our own field observation. We do not publish secondhand claims, social media rumour, or unverified tips as established fact.
All factual claims are checked before publication. Where a claim is disputed or uncertain, we say so. Where we cannot verify something, we do not publish it.
Errors are corrected promptly and transparently. Corrections are noted at the foot of the piece with a description of what changed and when. We do not silently amend the record. When the language of a piece needs clarification but the facts are not in dispute, we may update without a formal correction notice.
If you believe we have published an error, please write to editors@fisherandfarmer.com.
Recipe development and testing
Recipes published on FisherAndFarmer.com are tested for accuracy, clarity, and feasibility. Where a recipe originates from a contributor or external source, it is attributed. Where a recipe is adapted from an existing published work, the original is credited and the nature of the adaptation is described.
We do not publish recipes solely to support a commercial product listing. Recipe content is editorial content and is subject to the same standards.
If you find a problem with a recipe — an error in measurement, a missing step, an instruction that doesn't work — please let us know at editors@fisherandfarmer.com.
AI and automation
We do not publish AI-generated text as editorial content under a human byline.
Where AI-assisted tools play a material role in producing a piece — for example, in data analysis that shapes the conclusions of a story — we disclose that role. Where AI is used for routine tasks that do not affect editorial substance (such as transcription or scheduling), no disclosure is necessary.
Our data column, The Meter, draws on AI-assisted analysis and is transparent about its methodology.
Contributor standards
All contributors — staff, freelance, and guest — are expected to observe these guidelines. Contributors must disclose to their editor any relationship, financial interest, or prior involvement that could be perceived as a conflict of interest in relation to a story they are writing or proposing.
We expect contributors to abide by:
- The Association of Food Journalists Ethics Code
- The Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics
- Applicable copyright law in the relevant jurisdiction
- FTC disclosure guidelines (US), ASA/CAP codes (UK), and ASAI codes (Ireland) as applicable
Contributors are responsible for the originality of their work. Plagiarism is grounds for termination of the contributor relationship. We take allegations of plagiarism seriously and investigate them fully.
B Corp accountability
Fisher & Farmer is pursuing B Corp certification, which commits us to measuring and improving our social and environmental impact across all business activities — editorial included. This commitment informs our operations but does not constrain our editorial judgement. We are free to report critically on issues related to sustainability, environmental policy, and corporate responsibility, including our own shortcomings.
These guidelines are reviewed annually. The most recent review was conducted in February 2026. Questions or concerns about editorial ethics should be directed to editors@fisherandfarmer.com.