I have no reason to doubt that one of the pleasures of life is the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Aid to the agricultural industry has been high on the government’s agenda. With the introduction of a number of information campaigns, schemes and subsidies for farmers, the government has managed to secure a niche for local agricultural produce in, what has become post-EU accession, a liberalised market.

The initiatives undertaken, the introduction of packaging and labelling, the grading of produce by the pitkalija (open market) officials, are initiatives that must be commended, to say the least. This apart from financial aid which, for the year 2006, amounted to some Lm9 million (EUR 20.96m).

The European Union has also been instrumental in this, offering technical expertise and opportunities to local farmers.

One last word of praise must unquestionably be granted to the local farmers whose sterling work in adverse conditions keeps us consumers with healthy provisions.

Karl Ebejer

Attard