ON a visit to the Evesham Safeways today, (September 2), we were pleased to see they were advertising 'new season apples' - but then shocked to see that they came from New Zealand. In September, in the Vale of Evesham!

Why do not our supermarkets stock locally produced fruits and vegetables? How can they justify the cost and environmental price involved in carting apples half way round the world to sell them in the heart of one of the traditional fruit growing areas of Britain?

We often hear that farmers face problems - perhaps retailers like Safeways are partly to blame. They should promote local produce to local consumers.

ADRIAN AND CASSANDRA PHILLIPS, The Old Rectory, Dumbleton, Evesham.

Mel Lewis, manager at Evesham Safeway, said: "We don't buy at this level. It is a company decision. Safeway does buy a lot of crops which come out of this area which we promote in store."