Caroline Spelman departed DEFRA this week without having made much of an impression on me or, I dare say, many others.

Too often, as is the case with retail buyers, secretaries of state just seem to be using DEFRA as a stepping stone to other things, a card jostling for position before being reshuffled in the prime minister’s political pack. Arguably much more significant is the shock news that Jim Paice has been replaced by David Heath. He will be missed.

The new secretary is Owen Paterson, the former Northern Ireland secretary who is delightfully referred to as a “tall, good looking nouveau toff” in an NFU briefing document.

He’s already got some stock with producers, having met with dairy farmers last month to discuss the milk price crisis, an issue he had promised to take up with the government. He can do more than that now - he has the chance to show he is a friend of the sector and ensure conditions are right for producers to meet those ambitious DEFRA UK food targets.

Meanwhile over at the Department of Health, headline-grabbing Jeremy Hunt has the unenviable job of sorting out the NHS. Among his priorities should also be guaranteeing the future of the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme. If they want to fix the health of the nation and save the NHS some cash, getting the kids eating better seems the logical starting point.