Farmers and winegrowers from Biterrois organize an awareness-raising operation at the Leclerc Montimaran shopping center in Béziers

Farmers and winegrowers from Biterrois carried out an awareness-raising operation in the Leclerc shopping center in Montimaran. ML – Rémy Rugiero

Gathered around the unions of the FDSEA 34 and the Young Farmers of Hérault, around forty farmers and winegrowers carried out an awareness-raising action within the Leclerc shopping center in Béziers. Their goal ? Denounce certain practices and inform the consumer of the origin of the products.

Between exasperation and anger, the farmers and winegrowers of Biterrois met this Friday afternoon at the Leclerc shopping center in Béziers. Around forty of them responded to the call from the FDSEA 34 (Departmental Federation of Agricultural Operators' Unions) and the Young Farmers of Hérault in order to to take joint action. Jean-Pascal Pelagatti, president of the FDSEA 34 explains: "We want to keep up the pressure. This action shows that we are on alert for upcoming government announcements, while remaining vigilant, targeting mass distribution today."

Educational action

A cause carried out calmly, with the awareness of consumers on site in mind. A symbolic stick-up and collection operation in the shopping carts of bottles of wine and other products (subsequently returned to the store) were carried out. "We have come to denounce the importation of foreign products which do not respect the standards that are imposed on us. We want to explain to consumers the deception they are experiencing, and make them aware that mass distribution is not playing the game." : regrets Benjamin Boillat-Rami, president of the Young Farmers of Hérault.

The Young Farmers of Hérault collect foreign wines from the shelves. ML – Rémy RUGIERO

The organizers of the day browsed the aisles of fruits and vegetables, wines and agricultural products. On the program, labeling of products from abroad, indication of non-compliant products, comparison of articles. The customers of the supermarket were not shocked by the approach, like Isabelle Torti, loyal to the place: "I am completely in agreement with their claims. I want our farmers to be able to earn their crust properly and for products treated with things banned in France to be banned from our shelves. We literally walk on our heads."

Awareness

Emmanuelle Ménard, deputy for Hérault, who came to meet the initiators of this call, noted some inconsistencies on site. Like the honey sold on the shelves that the farmers present to him: "On this honey, it's obvious," she protests. "You see products labeled blue, white and red even though they come from Bulgaria or Romania, it's unacceptable. What we are asking for is honest information. Large stores need to question themselves."

The Montimaran Leclerc shopping center, whose director did not wish to speak, played the game by letting the action unfold until its end. 

Warning

The slogan of this operation testifies to a more than perceptible fed up of farmers. If future announcements, negotiated with their national representatives, do not result in satisfactory measures, organizations could step up to the plate. ;nbsp;Other stronger actions would be carried out, if the status quo were to reign in the coming weeks, the Agricultural Show ;being present as the next deadline.

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