We will have to do differently this year. If the lily of the valley on May 1 will be sold in "all the stores that are open", the street sale will be "completely prohibited" and the florists will remain closed, warned the Minister of Agriculture, Didier Guillaume, this Tuesday on Europe 1.
"We are not going to do anything, street sales will be completely prohibited, florists will not open because stores will be closed," said the minister, explaining that "we can find thrush in all stores that are open ”in the context of containment as deemed essential, such as bakeries.
"A call for 100% of French thrush to be sold"
The sale of lily-of-the-valley on the street by individuals on May 1 usually constitutes a "tolerance" framed by municipal decrees, on small quantities, without hampering pedestrian traffic and without installing trestles for example. The minister nevertheless launched "an appeal for 100% of French lily of the valley to be sold for the week of May 1".
Didier Guillaume: "The horticultural sector is one of the most affected (...) I appeal that 100% of French lily of the valley be sold" #RadioOuverte # Europe1 pic.twitter.com/s2bsaNgjhP
- Europe 1 🎧🌍📻 (@ Europe1) April 21, 2020"Lily of the valley is symbolic", he added, "but it is also a little moment of happiness, a little ray of sunshine in this confinement which is not always simple". Didier Guillaume had already launched a similar call to allow French farmers to sell their lamb stocks at Easter. "Many responded and 100% of the French lamb was sold for Easter," said the minister.
The horticultural sector, "one of the most affected" by the crisis
For him, this new call is a way of "responding" to the concerns of the horticultural sector, "one of the most affected" by the crisis. "This is the reason why I asked, there again, that there be a special plan which is set up at European level", affirmed Didier Guillaume.
The Nantes market gardeners' federation, which brings together producers based on the outskirts of Nantes, where more than 80% of the lily of the valley sold in France grows, estimates that more than 70% of the 60 million sprigs of lily of the valley usually sold will be lost this year. Thrush represents between 20 and 30 million euros in turnover per year, according to the federation.
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