Mobilization of farmers in Bouches-du-Rhône: the Rousset LIDL platform blocked this Thursday morning

Since 5 a.m. this Thursday morning, Bouches-du-Rhône farmers, led by Rural Coordination, have taken out the tractors to mobilize in front of the LIDL platform in the Rousset industrial zone. An operation to denounce the government's inertia on reforms and the European Union's agreement with the Mercosur countries.

Pallets are burned, vines dumped in front of the 43,000 m² platform which serves 51 of the brand's stores. Some farmers even came with their cows: Sarriette was there to support them.

“We are not here to deprive the French of their food” – Laurent Dubost, general secretary of rural coordination 13

“Here you are in a zone of agricultural resistance” displays a banner in front of the branches placed on site, ready to be ignited. Live on France Bleu Provence, Laurent Dubost, winegrower in Rognes which explains this Lidl platform is “one of the symbols“from the unease of farmers, because”mass distribution is tightening our belts (…) the sharing of the margin is not consistent“. For example, on a two-euro bottle of wine, the winemaker explains that a “empty bottle, it's 1.20 euros, so the producer has 80 cents left and we have to pay the cellar workers, those who are in the fields… there's nothing left, our agricultural workers are better paid than us , we are at the end“.

Laurent Dubost was already mobilized at the start of the year (then with the FDSEA union), but since then “our treasuries are dried up“and these signs”play on our misfortune“according to the winemaker.”Today they are targeted, and tomorrow it might be a store or something else“, warns the farmer. To consumers, he wants to say that we must understand”that buying French and at the right price is very important to us“.

After these first actions this Thursday morning, others will be announced in the coming days, in the department, but also throughout France from Monday.