"It's very good not to forget people in summer": fruits and vegetables accessible to everyone in Île-de-France

The crates are well stacked in the shade of tents installed in front of the town hall of Bagneux (Hauts-de-Seine).

Inside: a mini watermelon, pineapple, grapes, cucumber, cabbage and carrots.

The equivalent of 15 euros of fruit and vegetables distributed by the city to unemployed residents who follow one another in this very calm week of August 15.

Like every month, the municipality has planned 300 packages.

No question of taking a summer break for this device.

Even less when the price of fruit and vegetables continues to climb, between inflation and drought.

“We had to change a few products because some were too expensive,” explains Céline Dupas, head of the solidarity action division within the CCAS, which finances the purchase of the products.

Read alsoFruit and vegetable prices: how the drought raises fears of new increases at the start of the school year

At 11:30 a.m., when the morning distribution ends on Tuesday, a few hundred people have already come to collect their fruit and vegetable crate.

This is particularly the case of Zoran, 61, driver-ripeur now unemployed.

“At my age no one wants to hire me anymore,” he breathes as he fills his cart.

I come here because I don't really have a choice.

And then in the summer, the restaurants are closed.

For this resident of Bagneux for 26 years, this distribution is a real boost.

"It's really good not to forget people in the summer," he insists.

“The distribution takes place every month, all year round, but it is true that in the summer, in addition to difficulties, the inhabitants have to face a form of loneliness”, underlines the first deputy mayor (PCF) de Bagneux, Yasmine Boudjenah, “But we are receiving more and more people with very different profiles,” adds the elected official.

Every month, the city of Bagneux distributes to nearly 300 unemployed residents a basket of fruit and vegetables worth 15 euros.

An operation that does not take a summer break.

LP/Anne-Sophie Damecour

Like Marina, 50, who puts the contents of the package in the panniers of her bike.

This television camerawoman modestly evokes “an accident of life”, which today deprives her of all resources.

“I was intermittent and I am not entitled to either the ASS

or the RSA, says this single mother with a 9-year-old child.

So I learned to put my pride aside and ask for help, I learned that it can happen to anyone.

And that the city where I live shows great solidarity.

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In Villeneuve-la-Garenne, the departmental farm offers its seasonal baskets for 4 euros

At the other end of the Hauts-de-Seine, it is the departmental farm of Chanteraines, in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, which now offers its production for sale every Wednesday.

For a very reasonable price.

" But what is it ?

asks Régine, about a round vegetable with a purple tint.

“It's kohlrabi, it's excellent,” replies Pascal Moutymbo, the market gardener.

Hairy tomatoes, indigo tomatoes, chioggia beets, so many rare and original varieties that grow in the north of Hauts-de-Seine.

These dozens of baskets of fruit and vegetables picked that morning are offered for sale at the price of 8 or 4 euros depending on the quantity.

"We produce organically, but we don't have the certification", specifies the farmer-market gardener.

However, the heat wave has somewhat damaged the crops of the urban farm.

“Usually, we offer eggs in our baskets, but there, the hens no longer lay with these heats, explains the market gardener.

But we are expecting a lot of good produce for the following weeks, such as lamb's lettuce, spinach, cabbage, and lots of vegetables for laying down.

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Sales at cost price this Thursday in 14 cities

Finally, this Thursday, the PCF and the agricultural union Modef (Movement for the defense of family farmers) are once again organizing a solidarity sale of fruits and vegetables at cost price in 14 towns in the region: 11 in Val-de-Marne , 2 in Hauts-de-Seine (Bagneux and Gennevilliers) and in Paris, Place de la Bastille.

This initiative aims in particular “to denounce the current distribution circuits and to favor the short chain”, supports the Federation of the PCF of Val-de-Marne.

Twenty tonnes of fruit and vegetables will be spread over the various sites.

The PCF wishes to “fix reference prices and floor prices” for better remuneration of agricultural work.

More information on the sales of the departmental farm of Chanteraines in Villeneuve-la-Garenne on

Complete list and timetables of solidarity sales at cost price on the