“The market is my career, my springboard”: the Madeleine farmers' market in Béziers celebrated its thirtieth anniversary

The Madeleine farmers' market celebrated its 30th anniversary. Antonia Jimenez – ML

The Madeleine farmers' market celebrated its 30th anniversary. Antonia Jimenez – ML

Le marché paysan de la Madeleine a soufflé ses 30 bougies. Antonia Jimenez – ML

La place de la Madeleine, à Béziers, était à la fête ce samedi 28 septembre, avec une quinzaine des 24 producteurs de l’association du marché paysan présents, venus célébrer leurs 30 ans de présence dans la ville.

A festive atmosphere blew over the farmers' market on Place de la Madeleine this Saturday, September 28. Producers from Béziers and the region celebrated their 30 years of presence there. Today grouped together in an association (the “Béziers Farmers' Market” association), also including consumers participating in the dynamics of the market, these farmers had pulled out all the stops to mark the anniversary.

Around fifteen beautifully stocked stalls, sometimes offering peasant plates to be enjoyed on site, posters announcing the event, photos hung up of the first producers to remember, musical entertainment provided by Olivier Mas and Christian Surville… Enough to attract the curious and the gourmets.

24 family farms

“At the beginning, there were only two of them, that was in 1994, today, there are 24 of us, said Françoise Dumas, the president of the association, which offers, every Saturday, aromatic and medicinal plants in pots, fresh and dried, in herbal teas, in aromatic herbs that she grows on her farm, La Petite maison dans la prairie, located on the road to Maraussan, in Béziers. Then, little by little, they managed to attract other producers and consumers seduced by our seasonal products, grown or raised on family farms, the majority of which use little or no synthetic products. It was then to be more dynamic and help each other that the association was created."

Respect for the land, the product, the consumer

Like Stéphane Rabiller, a peasant baker in Aude. Present at the party, he came to sell his organic breads, made from the flour he produces in his own mill, from cereals (wheat, rye, einkorn, etc.) that he grows himself. Or Thierry Blondelle, a chicken producer in Courniou-les-Grottes, in the Béziers hinterland. Twenty-two years of presence and always smiling and full of energy. “I have always sold directly from the farm. But this market, my first, is my career, my springboard. It is thanks to him that I have been able to perpetuate my business. I have been here since 2003, and I am very attached to it!" In about two weeks, he will bring his chestnuts and walnuts. At Christmas, it will be the turn of his capons and hens.

I subscribe to read the rest