WHILE I cannot comment on any local cafes in farm shops, I feel the criticisms of Mrs Dunn are not justified on several counts (Letters, July 4).

I have yet to find any vegetable product at my local farm shop which is more expensive per kilo than any of my three local supermarkets, Asda, Sainsbury and Tesco, for seasonal produce.

I do not want the endless layers of plastic on my vegetables which do not degrade naturally, and subsequently cost more for disposal by councils and, therefore, for council taxpayers.

Farm shop produce is ready to use as you buy it, not living in hope that it will recover or ripen from days in chiller lorries, compartments etc in time for your planned meal.

Farm shops are encouraging people to think about seasonal use. I do not need parsnips and turnips in June or lettuce in November.

The farm shop I use has a queue every day before it opens and a full car park most of the time because people are realising that local, fresh and seasonal beats worrying about a few pence.

I have also had caterpillars in sealed supermarket vegetables and rotten fruit in sealed nets and bags.

Anita Carr,

Avon Drive,

Huntington,

York.

Updated: 10:21 Thursday, July 07, 2005