The Bédarieux Bio Nat market attracts lovers of good food and local products

Derrière son étal de fruits et légumes, Jean-Luc Jalabert est aux affaires. “Je donne même des conseils de plantation à mes clients”, indique-t-il. Midi Libre – RENE FERRANDO

In Bédarieux, the customers are in heaven. Throughout the year, they can benefit from two markets. On Saturdays, on Places aux Fruits and Roger-Abbal, around fifteen producers are present for the Bio Nat market. A meeting that attracts well beyond the limits of the municipality. On Mondays, in the heart of the city, a traditional market (food and clothing) takes place, bringing together nearly 80 traders.

Behind his fruit and vegetable stall, Jean-Luc Jalabert is in business. "Look, the customers are lining up to be served", he says while giving his change to a lady who comes from& rsquo;buy spring onions. "I have been present on the Bédarieux Bio Nat market for 6 years. It’s very good. It took me 8 months to build up a clientele who are now loyal", details the market gardener from La Tour-sur-Orb. The icing on the cake: "I give planting advice to my customers." A little extra appreciated by customers who can even obtain seeds from Jean-Luc Jalabert.

15 traders per year

Every Saturday of the year, the Bio Nat market takes place on Places aux Fruits and Roger-Abbal. There, in the heart of the town of Bédarieux, around fifteen traders offer their food products. "There are local producers. It’s the opportunity to do the shopping for the week", exclaims Edith, a pure-bred Bédarician. A little further on, in front of the Fonbine bakers' stand, Marion, an Englishwoman who has lived in Bédarieux for 12 years, is full of praise. "This market is awesome. It’s the best time of the week. We meet people, we talk. The merchants are awesome."

"Customer recognition is huge"

A stone's throw away, Xavier Tonnabel welcomes the customers behind his refrigerated stall containing the meat of his pigs. "I have been present at the Saturday market for 12 years. Besides, I only do Bédarieux. I have a small production in Poujol-sur-Orb. I work the old fashioned way, without additives. I almost stopped because it was very demanding but I missed the contact with people, so I come every two weeks. Customer recognition is huge", admits Xavier. His neighbor, Sébastien Laut, baker in Fonbine, above Avène, notices that the Saturday market attracts a lot of people from outside Bédarieux. Located along Rue de la République, Céline Di Marcantonio is a "small" news on the Bio nat market. Since January, she has been offering her jellies made from thyme, rosemary, saffron and olive oil. "I have a small clientele who are starting to get into habits, she notes. With my husband, Stéphane, we chose Bédarieux because we wanted to work locally."

Bédarieux offers two markets, throughout the year. On Saturdays, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Bio Nat takes place on Places aux Fruits and Roger-Abbal. Monday, traditional market (clothing and food) on Albert-Thomas, Roger-Abbal, aux Fruits and Pablo-Neruda squares, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. I subscribe to read more