While Covid-19 is still all over the media, according to some professionals of the fruit and vegetable sector, the virus seems to have only a limited impact for now on the activities of the Rungis market. They describe the market as rather calm for the past three weeks but it is difficult to tell if this slight slowdown is directly linked to the Coronavirus or to other factors like the social context which has strongly impacted the sector recently. At the very heart of the market, no one is wearing a mask yet, but some precautionary measures, like avoiding handshakes, have been implemented.
According to some other professionals of the sector, a certain psychosis has been created around the virus, which plays a role in the slowdown of activities on the market. Given the speed at which the virus is spreading, some retailers who come to get their supply every morning at Rungis worry that public markets might close (the gathering ban ordered by the prefect is already implemented in some department like the Oise). So they buy the strict minimum, for fear of no longer being able to sell their merchandise.
There is a rumor that the market might close, but it is difficult to imagine it would go that far. Such a decision would have far too great an impact on the fruit and vegetable sector in France, on wholesalers, as well as on consumers. However, given the speed at which the virus is spreading, the situation could change rapidly. Despite the slightly slower pace on the market, wholesalers and importers continue to sell their merchandise every morning, even if the sales are no longer always sealed with a handshake.