Brian Snow is quite right to question buying produce shipped from Africa (Letters, November 21).

There was a conference recently where the air miles of food travelling long distances were deplored, and questions asked what to do about it.

To my utter surprise, representatives of farmers from Africa pleaded convincingly to keep their markets open in this country. They argued that it would lead to great hardship in Africa if we were to stop buying their produce.

I wonder how it is they have so much food to spare to send to us when there are vast numbers in Africa starving and our charities are sending food to them?

  • Hans Lobstein, Marine Parade, Brighton