In response to a call from Légumes de France (the French Federation of Fresh Vegetable Producers), as well as the National Federation of Agricultural Holders’ Unions (FDSEA 66), and Jeune Agriculteurs des Pyrénées Orientales 66 union (JA 66), the three unions held a demonstration on Tuesday in Perpignan, France, to stop or reduce France’s massive imports of Moroccan products, mainly tomatoes, Fresh Plaza reported on Thursday.
Moroccan tomato exports to France increased by 40% between 2014 and 2023, while at the same time EU imports of the fruit jumped from 345K tons to 492K tons.
The move by Légumes de France backs a similar move by Spanish tomato growers, headed by the Spanish Federation of Associations of Exporting Producers of Fruit, Vegetables, Flowers and Live Plants (FEPEX).
“The growers are protesting against the over-representation of imported products on the shelves, especially Moroccan cherry tomatoes, which remain on French shelves at the height of the French production period (April to October). France’s own cherry tomato production is currently large enough to meet the consumer demand, but supermarket chains are deliberately choosing Moroccan tomatoes over French,” said the source.
The protesters are demanding a review of EU-Morocco agricultural product agreements, as well as a change of the consumer information legislation to make product provenance more transparent to French consumers such that the flag of the producing nation must be printed with a height of at least 15 mm.
In the run-up to the upcoming European Union election, MEPs are being reminded of the requests they have previously made to French public authorities.