Prince Charles, God bless him, is again in the news.

I am told he swallowed a polo ball (do they play polo with balls?) He has also started a campaign to support British agriculture.

Prince Charles addressed business leaders and supermarket bosses. Of course they were sympathetic but thought, what's in it for us?

British produce is second to none for taste and texture. Just think Kent cherries and strawberries - so much better than the tough-skinned varieties from Israel. Or Cox's Orange Pippins and Stilton - when not frozen to death in our supermarkets.

I went to a party last week and it was a grand affair. We were greeted with a glass of champagne. The catering staff were relaxed and the guests smiling.

The champagne was served at the right temperature with clean white dinner napkins round the bottles.

The guests were enjoying themselves and held out their glasses for refills.

"I say, this is jolly good," said a well-dressed gentleman.

I am not a Parker for nothing and had a peak under the napkin. It was white wine made in the champagne style by Breaky Bottom Vineyard, Lewes. It was excellent.

The public has shown it is prepared to pay a premium. The rising sales of organic produce and the success of Marks & Spencer's food sales prove the point.

British producers should get together, improve quality, presentation and give value for money.

Bring farmers' markets to our city centres. Prince Charles, there is still a job for you to do. Prod our Government and businessmen to make sure our producers have an equal chance to imports.

Dutch horticulturists buy heating oil for less than our growers.

A farmer is paid £20 for a sheep but lamb chops cost £3.50 for 3.

Duty on a bottle of English wine is £1.15 plus VAT but duty in France is only a few pence.

It's not surprising that our farmers find it difficult to compete.