"Are you talking about a comeback ..." Rachid takes a last crate of apples from his truck, fully tagged. Bougon, he passes it on to his colleague, who places it on the stall overflowing with fruit and vegetables. At the time of deconfinement, the display, usually so attractive, was revisited: the products are protected by a plastic film clinic. No way, in the middle of a health crisis, to let onlookers feel avocados and other lemons to check if they are ripe. This measure, imposed by the town hall of Paris, does not please these sellers of the Ornano market, in the 18th arrondissement. "We have already approached bankruptcy because of the confinement, and we are still being placed under restrictions. We're going to die, that's for sure, ” plague the merchant, ulcerated."And I'm not even talking about the relationship with customers. No more discussions, no more jokes. It's just sadness now . ”
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In this popular district, north of the City of Lights, the market had probably never been held in such calm. There are far fewer displays than usual. The few present remain sparse, spaced at least 1.50 meters, in accordance with the rules imposed by the municipality. "It feels like a country village , " said a retiree, resident of the district for over 25 years. The City has formally prohibited the sale by auction, the postilions being the primary vector of transmission of the Covid-19. " Sir, don't touch the goods!" have replaced the “Watermelon, one euro per kilo” . At the crossing of rue Ordener, a seller is impatient, and tries to assert his "bananas at 1 euro 50 per kilo" , and his "beautiful grape" . But, faced with competitors more respectful of established rules, man has no need to scream. After a few attempts - and accusing looks from worried walkers - he discreetly changes his mind.
Difficult social distancing
Among passers-by, health regulations sometimes seem difficult to comply with. In front of a display, a man tries his luck by choosing his apricots. He receives a volley of green wood from an annoyed shopkeeper: "Sir, I am talking to you. Yes. Rest those fruits, don't touch, there is the “Covid”! ” . Further, an old lady does not understand why she cannot "smell the melon before buying it" . Another wants to touch these ripe bananas to check their integrity. "People don't respect anything it's crazy!" , blows us a merchant, resigned. Amused, one of his colleagues is more philosopher. “We're back to work, it's better than nothing. Our turnover has gone down, prices have gone up at Rungis, but here we are . ”
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Social distancing is no more than a distant memory, the space between the stalls on Boulevard Ornano and the sedentary shops not exceeding 2 meters. Consequence: people, not always masked, agglutinate. In the distance, three soldiers from Operation "Resilience" keep watch, heavily armed. Three officers from the Prevention, Security and Protection Directorate (DPSP) patrol to verify that these measures are being observed. But, apart from a few reminders, their actions remain very limited. “Our teams told us that the sedentary traders had set up their own stalls, when they were not allowed. We are going to make changes this week, ” promises Olivia Polski, Anne Hidalgo's assistant to Commerce. According to the elected official, the return of the outdoor markets went well in the capital. Our observation is more mixed.
Illustrative photo. Alain Jocard / AFP
"Stay alert"
With traders, feedback is also mixed. Mohamed, who has been practicing this profession since the 1980s, welcomes the sanitary measures. "At least we can work in peace, as in my younger years" . The small entrepreneur has equipped his employees with gloves, and plans to make hydroalcoholic gel available soon. The plastic film he placed correctly covers the fruits and vegetables, preventing them from being reached by dangerous droplets. But not everyone does the same. Most merchants prefer to keep their mask on the chin to remain intelligible, while others have placed plastic at a minimum. Insufficient to make customers understand that touching is prohibited. "With all these unruly people, we will all be reconfigured in three weeks" , fears another seller, less confident.
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At the town hall of Paris, it is said that the return of the outdoor markets, much cheaper, was expected by the locals. The number of customers observed by us on Tuesday confirms this. But, warns Olivia Polski, "nothing is completely acquired" . “People have to stay alert. It is a first step. The virus will have to live with, ”she adds . As for Ornano, the return to normal will be, like everywhere else, very gradual. The displays are, for the moment, made up entirely of food products, the others - such as the sale of clothing - not making it possible to enforce social distancing. Among passersby, the feeling of nostalgia is palpable. Véronique, a mother, came to settle in the neighborhood fifteen years ago to be "not far from the sores of Montmartre and the bargains of the 18th century". But, she laments, this market does not look like what it experienced before the health crisis. "It's dreary, it's sad, it no longer looks like what we used to like," she explains. And to continue: "Quick, return to normal" .