I am writing as the leader of Slow Food Dorset about questions that have been raised at a recent committee meeting.

As a Slow Food convivium, or group, we fully support the principles of the international Slow Food movement – in short, to value and protect food which is good, clean and fair.

It may be useful for you also to know that Slow Food Dorset’s members come from a variety of backgrounds.

Many are people who simply care about the local food culture of our beautiful area, others are award-winning food producers.

Some are farmers and some are making artisan foods in small quantities or protecting rare breeds.

Our conversation came about because of the number of people who will be visiting Dorset in the run up to, and during, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Our understanding is that there will be an Olympic Village in Weymouth and, common sense tells us, that a great deal of food will be consumed in and around that facility.

Our main question is therefore: How will the councillors and/or organisers, with responsibility for making decisions about food contracts, proactively support bids which include local food from local producers?

To use a phrase which seems perfectly apt – that ‘lip service’ will not be the case when decisions are made?

Further, will decisions be made simply on price – regardless of quality and provenance?

John Peace, Slow Food Dorset