The food boulevard in New Road, Brighton, on Sunday was superb. The sun came out and the French stallholders showed it wasn't only football they were good at.

They were selling wonderful fruits and vegetables. I have never tasted such succulent white asparagus.

The local Sussex producers had food on offer every bit as good. Bookham Cheese was selling a home-made Parmesan cheese that matched the best we normally buy from Italy.

Next week they are here again, then we have to wait another year for the food festival. Why can't we have this market every Saturday in Brighton? With such wonderful tastes and smells and fresh seasonal foods on offer, it would significantly improve the quality of life in Brighton.

Actually it may even make the local supermarkets sharpen up their act too.

The amount of money and effort that went into these two weekends means we could not organise this ourselves. There will have to be support to start it off from one or other council body. But with all the current news about the importance of good food maybe a food market would be a better incentive to eat healthily than all the paid-for adverts and sanctimonious words from food experts.

Please share your views on this idea in The Argus or write to me at foodfestival@paskins.co.uk

-Roger Marlowe, Chairman, Brighton & Hove Food & Drinks Lovers Festival 2004, c/o Paskins Town House, 18/19 Charlotte St, Brighton BN2 1AG