On Friday, French farmers took action against the “unfair competition” of Moroccan tomatoes by labeling their produce in supermarkets located in Agen, Rennes, Brest, and Avignon. The Légumes de France organization, a specialized association of the FNSEA, issued a press release denouncing the situation, which they believe is largely favored by ineffective customs agreements and insufficient legislation on the origin of fruits and vegetables.
In Agen, around ten producers placed “Morocco” stickers on tomatoes being sold at the Bon-Encontre Intermarché to raise consumer awareness and highlight French production. Jonas Holaar, a tomato producer from Lot-et-Garonne, highlighted the unfair competition faced by French producers due to the low cost of Moroccan labor and the use of banned pesticides in Morocco.
In Brest, about twenty farmers conducted a similar action to bring attention to the issue. Another group of farmers in Rennes labeled cherry tomatoes with “Origin Maroc” stickers. They also expressed concerns about the free trade agreement between Europe and Morocco, which allows for the export of tomatoes with minimal customs duties. Ronan Collet, the president of the vegetables section of FDSEA 35, emphasized the impact of this agreement on French producers.
