Special markets to help farmers

Farmers will be able to sell fruit and vegetables directly from supermarkets and service stations to boost sales, the government has announced.

Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said the special weekend markets would help farmers who had been hit by bad weather this summer.

The markets will take place over three weekends on August 22-23, 28-29 and September 5-6.

Ms Lagarde said a similar plan in 2007 helped improve sales.

Poor weather has resulted in a delay to ripening and low production causing Interfel, a group which represents fruit and vegetable producers, to call on the government for extra measures.

Along with Hervé Novelli, the minister for commerce, traditional workers and small business, Ms Lagarde has written to France’s prefects asking them to lift certain regulations on sales so the markets can take place.

Photo:mcaretaker