I will still go for organic

A good few people will be disappointed by the findings of a Food Standards Agency study which claims that organic food is no more nutritious than conventionally produced food.

We went organic - as far as is possible given supply and cost - when I went into my local supermarket to see poster saying "wash fruit and vegetables to remove residues of chemicals used to assist growth". Whilst it is always advisable to wash any fruit and veg, I found the poster disturbing, especially as I had three small children.

At about that time a neighbour had started an organic box scheme. Each week he would deliver a selection of organic fruit and veg brought from various organic farms in the West Midlands, many of which were in my constituency of Shropshire, Hereford and Worcestershire.

This does not mean that I am against conventional farming. We rely on the use of intensive farming methods which will include the use of chemical fertiliser to ensure a regular supply of fruit and vegetables to feed our urban population.

Nor does it mean that I regard non-organic fruit and veg as being harmful: on the contrary, over recent years the big supermarket chains have been anxious to improve and upgrade the quality of their produce.

However organic production provides an important counterpoint to conventional methods by providing a different reference point. True organic farming sees the land in a different way and this has, over the years, had a profoundly beneficial impact on the wider farming community and the methods employed.