Fifteen or so farmers demonstrated their anger at the low potato prices in an Auchan supermarket in Roncq on Saturday by buying back their potatoes. The potatoes were on special offer at an unbeatable price of €2.99 for 25 kilos. The FDSEA and UNPT (National potato producers union) decided to react to such prices. Maryse Moreaux, President of the FDSEA says that “we do not wish in any way to block Auchan’s commercial activities, but we do intend to denounce selling products of lower quality at rates that do not profit the producers”. The demonstration was also to raise consumer awareness.
According to farmers, the sector is going through a “critical” time due to many factors that have caused prices to plummet. One factor is over-production (on average 55 tons per hector are being produced compared to 50 tons in 2013) due to larger plantations and favourable climate conditions. Another factor is the Russian embargo which means French and European farmers have lost a large client, and are now competing against each other more. Farmers believe the low prices of potatoes on special offer results in clients not understanding why other potatoes are double the price, they say it is “dangerous” as it incites the client to turn to special offers and puts pressure on market prices.
Antoine Peenaert, Secretary General of the UNPT, says “all we want, is to be heard”. Sack after sack of special offer potatoes where piled into trolleys and bought by the demonstrators who spent about €150 on approx. 1 ton of potatoes. “Symbolically, we want to show that we are not thieves, although with the prices our potatoes are being sold for, we believe we are being robbed”, explains a farmer. Some sacks of potatoes were given to clients who were present at the supermarket whilst the rest were piled into cars and given to a food bank.