I AGREE in part with Paul Morley's criticism of the recipes published in the Craven Herald (Advise readers to use local grown foodstuffs, April 21). Many of our foodstuffs we can't produce ourselves are imported, and necessarily so, but many ingredients in the Craven Herald's recipes are very expensive and items like mangoes, only to be had in large supermarkets.

I am not a vegetarian, but like many people eat more vegetables than I once did. This is in accordance with national and local medical advice to eat more fruit and vegetables than meat for health reasons. Mr Morley, and indeed, the Craven Herald, seem to be unaware of the looming food poverty crisis in the rural areas this newspaper serves.

If there is 'little evidence of need' as some local people still maintain, why are there now food banks/ pantries set up, mostly by the churches with community help, in Settle, Hellifield, Bentham and Ingleton, where the numbers of people coming for food have soared in recent months.

Many are young families and older people who have no private transport to take them on regular trips to the larger supermarkets in towns where food is cheaper and more variety is on offer. With rising costs on all sides and come October, with fuel costs rising again and colder weather taking hold, it will be a choice between keeping warm or being fed.

Incidentally these rural food banks get no help at all in the form of surplus food from the supermarkets as does the food bank in Skipton. People who shop in Settle should make a note of that. Recently, I have submitted to another local publication, articles containing recipes for low cost nourishing meals, some containing meat, but many containing locally grown vegetables.

It is not the first time I have done this for a local readership. It is just a small contribution towards a looming and growing crisis.

Kathleen Kinder

Settle