Despite closing weekly markets during the two-month lockdown, farmers in the French region of Hérault have succeeded in continuing or expanding direct sales to their customers through new channels. Now that all the stalls have reopened, some of them are struggling to keep up with demand, reports EURACTIV.
At a market in Montpellier, Véronique and Antoine serve the queue of customers wearing masks, who wait their turn under the watchful eye of a public security officer.
The couple is up to their necks in work. With their delivery basket system, which they had used during the lockdown, and the subsequent reopening of “normal” markets in June, the 24 hours in a day are barely enough to satisfy demand, confounding previous fears about coronavirus restrictions.
“During the lockdown, a completely new type of clientele from the immediate neighbourhood suddenly appeared, buying directly from our farm. Today, they also come to the market. It’s high season in production and it’s getting really difficult to manage the workload,” explains Antoine.