Antoine Bienvault / Photo credit: Benjamin Polge / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP (Illustration) 9:29 a.m., February 3, 2024

While the majority of farmers have left camp after two weeks of revolt, the French continue to support the mobilization. Many people want to buy French, as Europe 1 noted, even if inflation weighs on many households. 

Straw bales and tractors were evacuated from blockage points. After two weeks of rebellion, the vast majority of farmers left camp at the call of the main unions, generally satisfied with the government announcements, even if they remain vigilant regarding their implementation. Especially since the mobilization is supported by nearly nine out of ten French people, as Europe 1 noted on the Aligre market in Paris, where traders are set up this Saturday morning. Customers arrive and after these fifteen days of blocking, they pay a little more attention to the origin of the products they buy.

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In front of the stands, several customers ask the origin of the products they want to consume. Nathalie, in particular, is particularly conscientious. She wants to show solidarity with French farmers. "I have the choice to buy French or not. And clearly yes, I prefer to buy French because it's better. I find that in France, we are really protected by very specific laws and regulations and I find that it is unfair to impose this on our French farmers when this is not the case for all farmers and for all the products that we can find on the market."

“People don’t have money.”

But buying French often costs more. In this period of inflation, many people are giving up on local products. Abdel, a fruit and vegetable seller in the market, sees this every weekend. "French goods are expensive: a kilo of French tomatoes is worth 4 euros, a kilo of Belgian or Moroccan tomatoes is worth 2 euros. There is a difference. People don't have money: you get a salary of 1,200, 1,300 euros, you have rent to pay... you have nothing left."

Like many traders at the Aligre market, Abdel says he supports French agriculture but has no other choice but to favor foreign products on his display, which are cheaper and more profitable.