The Soil Association has not done itself any favours with its latest anti-supermarket rant. Its survey of the leading retailers as well as being some five months out of date and timed out of sync with UK seasons, purports to show their lack of support for the UK organic farming cause.

In publishing its results, the association states it carried out the survey to support UK organic farmers, suggesting it already had an axe to grind. But the manner in which the survey was conducted makes any findings of little more than anecdotal value and only serves to misrepresent the issue and leave consumers - once again - in a state of confusion.

It asked its members to carry out the research by going into stores over a one-month period and reporting back with their findings. Clearly this method is open to inaccuracy, misreporting and even bias.

Like many in the trade, I am far from being an unswerving champion of the multiple retail cause. But give credit where it is due. The supermarkets have their failings, but have almost certainly brought organic produce to a far wider audience than had the environment-friendly products remained the preserve of niche retailers.

And why shouldn't they? The supermarkets are interested in making money. There is demand for organics among consumers. There is demand for UK produce. Where both can be met, it is going to be in the supermarkets' best interest just as much as the consumer's. Not to mention the UK grower’s. Which brings us back to the Soil Association's stated aim in the first place.