Europe Edition
In France, something is always happening when it comes to sales of domestic production. Multiple times a year, media show French growers protesting against imported products. Early this week, the minister of Agriculture, Le Foll, sent a guide to all mayors and various other members of the government in France, which stipulates how they can buy local food products without violating laws on public procurement. So the minister is promoting circumventing the law in order to buy French produce. It is said that Le Foll was under pressure from French growers to do something about local consumption.
Many cafeterias (like those at ministries, hospitals and schools) are either subcontracted or under own exploitation, and need to comply with obligations for public procurement and relevant European standards (e.g. no discrimination based on origin). In other words: A city can't write in a procurement: 'Vegetables have to come from France'. This has long been a thorn in the side of French producers. During the latest strikes, trucks that supplied products to several ministries in Paris, were stopped and inspected. It turned out that hardly any French products were present among those delivered (the Elysée reportedly eats rather a lot of imported produce as well).
Purpose of this guide is to make sure 40% of products in cafeterias is local produce come 2017. The guide gives various recommendations. Le Foll emphasizes that he wants to support domestic production with this.
