Farmers in Four French Cities Unite to Protest Unfair Competition from Moroccan Tomatoes

Farmers in Agen, Rennes, Brest and Avignon took action on Friday to protest against the unfair competition of Moroccan tomatoes. They placed “Morocco” stickers on their produce in local supermarkets to raise awareness among consumers and highlight French production. Nathalie Binda, a farmer from Lot-et-Garonne, expressed her disappointment that the origin of cherry tomatoes is often marked in very small letters on packaging, making it difficult for consumers to identify the source.

In Rennes, farmers also protested against imported tomatoes, including those from Morocco. They pointed out the lack of information about traceability and denounced the impact of free trade agreements that allow for the importation of products with little to no customs duties. Similar actions were carried out by farmers in Brest, who highlighted the need for greater transparency in labeling and legislation regarding food origins.

The farmers’ main goal was to inform consumers, raise awareness about supporting local produce and advocate for greater transparency in labeling and legislation regarding food origins. They believe that this situation is largely favored by insufficient legislation on information regarding the origin of fruits and vegetables as well as operative customs agreements.