Road blockages, demonstrations, snail operations, France, Germany, Belgium, or Romania, the protest movement in the agricultural world affected around ten European countries at the start of the year.
Fuel prices, rising production costs, and increasing environmental standards are the strong demands expressed during these mobilizations.
Peasant income, falling by 22% in 2023, is also central to the discussions.
The Confédération paysanne, the third agricultural union, calls for example “a ban in France on transactions below the cost price”.
Some enlightened consumers are already applying this solution in Amap (Association for the Maintenance of Peasant Agriculture).
In Eure-et-Loir, twelve structures exist and bring together around 500 families.
For the first time since 2006, the delegations of these twelve Amaps from Eure-et-Loir met on Saturday February 10, 2024. The objective: to know each other better, exchange addresses of producers, understand how everyone organizes themselves to irrigate the territory even more and thus respond in part to the discomfort of farmers.
Read alsoAfter the anger of the farmers, renewed sales: “I’m going back out of solidarity”
The first Amaps saw the light of day in 2006. Their goal: to provide a decent living for the farmers who feed them.
“The farmer is a partner,” insists Françoise Trubert.
We need to have farmers near us to feed us.
We discuss the sale price with him every year.
We want to take into account the costs and pay him the right rate so that he works correctly,” explains the delegate of the Centre-Val de Loire Amap network for Eure-et-Loir.
Only seasonal products
The secretary of Amap en BIOce de Mainvilliers even affirms that members often show generosity towards their producers.
“For those who encounter difficulties, we buy baskets more expensive than what was planned out of solidarity, or we will help them weed a little,” explains this retiree.
Around fifty producers are partners of these Amaps, half of which come from the department.
The others come from a radius of 50 km.
Moreover, this lunchtime in front of her plate, Françoise is able to cite the origin of her food.
“It’s a salad from my market gardener, we had pasta from Jouy (Eure-et-Loir), veal from Ferme le vent des marsais in Calvados, and cheese from Nogent-le-Rotrou (Eure -et-Loir) » proudly lists this resident of Courville-sur-Eure (Eure-et-Loir).
However, only seasonal products.
At the moment, no goat's cheese because the sheep are breastfeeding, it's the counterpart of locavore.
In 5 years, eggs have increased by a penny!
Beers, beef, vegetables, breads, apples, pancakes, dairy products, and even soap according to this consumer, no need to go to the supermarket too often.
“For my household, 90% of the food comes from Amap,” attests Françoise Trubert.
The cost is also guaranteed.
“We pay the producer directly, so there are no intermediaries.
When you manage your basket well, the difference with a supermarket is not notable,” assures the retiree.
“What is notable, however, is the quality and freshness of the products,” says this epicurean.
According to her, the price would be 10% lower than in brands specializing in organic products.
Another advantage of the “Amapiens”, a balanced price surge.
“Eggs went up a penny last year.
It had been stable for five years.
We did not have the inflation shock encountered in supermarkets.
For us, it’s always the same quantity and the prices have changed very little.”
Among farmers, this clientele is also welcome because the production is purchased in advance.
“It’s the guarantee of a certain sales volume.
There is a known turnover.
Our market gardener knows our needs until December, so he can sow accordingly,” confirms Françoise Trubert.