THE problems at Malton Bacon Factory are most likely to be due to price pressure from the supermarkets (February 27).

Ex-farm pig prices are down on last year as the retailers are wanting pig meat ever cheaper.

The number of UK pigs has fallen drastically leading to fewer going to Malton. I suspect Malton is having to import and only pack the meat, so fewer workers are needed and, ultimately, the exporting country will want to do the packing as well.

How long will it be before the small print says "produced in Holland, Denmark, France... or even Poland".

I dread to think where supermarket dominance will eventually lead us. No home-grown food, no independent petrol stations, very few small shops just for starters.

F R Henley,

Green Farm,

Seaton Ross,

York.

Updated: 10:09 Wednesday, March 01, 2006