These are difficult times for many English farmers and growers.

The price of milk, meat, fruit and vegetables is being determined by supermarkets and the low price of imports.

Prices have become so depressed that many farms are operating at a loss and face mounting debt.

Despite the difficulties, there is a spirit of enterprise in the country.

Much of East Sussex is poor agricultural land but there are more organic farmers, new cheesemakers, vineyards, fishing lakes and farm shops.

Typical of these enterprises is Wholesome Foodservice at Halcombe Farm, Peacehaven.

Using old farm buildings for warehousing and workshops, the directors have built a considerable business distributing quality food to a wide range of customers.

Sales are in excess of £3.5 million and a fleet of eight vans deliver to London and the South-East. If a customer rings before 3pm they can have a delivery the following day.

It's hard work and the company carries some 1,500 lines.

Director Stephan Pfeiffer told me previous operations were confined to the direct sale of eggs from Halcombe Farm, which had 60,000 chickens.

"Nowadays," said Stephan, "everything we sell is brought in."

I asked what proportion was British.

"About 40 per cent but to remain in business we have to be competitive and provide the products our customers require, such as French cheeses, Italian salamis and olives."

I remembered many years ago when my young daughters commenced their social round.

One Saturday there was a party at Lower Hoddern Farm, close to Halcombe Farm, where I was delighted to see a field of rhubarb and other vegetables.

In the North, where I grew up, everybody seemed to grow rhubarb, which was hidden from the frost under pots or cones of hay. Today, no vegetables are grown on Hoddern Farm.

We talked about eggs and the latest Government legislation, which will mean many small egg producers will withdraw from the business.

Next year, every egg will have an official stamp. The cost of a labelling machine is about £14,000.

What's wrong with our Government?

Once we could all go to work on a broken egg at half price and Woolworths would supply a bag of broken biscuits.

But all that was before Edwina Currie.

I was delighted to hear the directors of Wholesome Foodservice intend to use their land to grow organic vegetables and meat for direct sale to consumers.

There is some hope.