To no longer sell these fruits out of season, this is the decision taken by this large distribution brand

No, it's not normal to eat strawberries and cherries in the middle of December. Thus, the Les Mousquetaires brand has decided to no longer put them on sale from December to January. This major retailer is the only one to have made this decision and it explains why.

The Musketeers: no more strawberries and cherries at Christmas at Intermarché and Netto

The mass distribution brand includes Intermarché, Net et Bricomarché. Only the first two stores are affected by this stoppage of sales of strawberries and cherries during the months of December and January. In fact, they will no longer offer these red fruits for sale in order to “promote seasonal French fruits and vegetables”. At Christmas, it will no longer be possible to find these fruits on the shelves.

In a press release, the brand expressed itself: “Intermarché and Netto are committed to stopping the national supply of its stores with strawberries and cherries for the end-of-year holidays (from December to January), leaving thus more space on the shelves for seasonal fruits and vegetables produced in France”. This first experiment will make it possible to extend this measure to other products with strong seasonality in the years to come, depending on the results.

Prioritize seasonal fruits: a behavior to adopt to take care of the planet

For Le Figaro, the president of the Les Mousquetaires group, Thierry Cotillardexplains that eating seasonal fruit means supporting French production and improving the carbon footprint. As BFTMV explains, the strawberries sold in winter come from southern Spain or even Morocco. Concerning cherries, they are generally imported from Chile or South Africa. Often produced intensively, it is a threat to the ecosystem.

The president of the brand explains this decision to Ouest-France: “This remains above all a symbolic decision, because sales have relatively little value in the entire department, but if consumers follow us and others, like Leclerc or Carrefour do the same thing, cumulatively, it will weigh”. Intermarché plans to launch a new label entitled “Intermarché Terroir”. The goal is to highlight local producers even more over the next few years. This is a decision that highlights the importance of consuming seasonal fruits and vegetables.