As a regular visitor to Malta for over 40 years, I have always bought my fruit and vegetables from the farmers’ market or from the many roadside vendors.

However, since being made aware of the abuse of pesticides by some local farmers, I have, for health and safety reasons, opted to go for the clinically packaged supermarket alternatives. I have always valued the quality and flavour of locally produced fruit and veg above the imported stuff.

I feel that the farmers who are guilty of this transgression have not only “shot themselves in the foot”, but may also have “queered the pitch” for the more conscientious ones. (Sorry for the mixed metaphors.)