The Socialising Effects of Small Markets in the Provence

In recent years it has been becoming more or less the standard for small villages and towns to upheld its own small market-day, at least once a week. This is the best way to support local manufacturers of products. 

This measure was necessary because many of the small food manufacturers and farmers had become increasingly the prey of more and more radicalised business practices of major supermarket chains. The chains, with their purchasing power, were able to dictate farmers and small producers the purchase prices the supermarket chain was willing to pay. This dependency of producers to the supermarket chain have lead to a kind of mono-culture in agriculture. 

There is nothing "green" or spiritual behind this concept, - its the demand of those simple rules of free market: Who is so naive planting crops for a price which does not even cover the costs for the helpers during the harvest-times, not to mention all the other works. For an example: A few years ago farmer in the South of France had left the cherries on the trees because a harvester needs to be paid ca 8 €uros.  The helper can pick 6 kilo per hour. The supermarket chains where only willing to pay a price per kilo of 2 €uro ... Now you must calculate transport, amortisation of agricultural machines, taxes insurances and you will figure out yourself that the farmer would actually pay to work... 

In consequence of the creation of these small local markets there is another very good effect: the buying behaviour of citizens has increasingly changed, giving heed to healthy sustainable products which do not contain health risks as they are assumed to be caused by GMO products.. 

Of course, the most important effect is that the citizens just also meet in these markets, talk and exchange news that are really of relevance for the immediate region. The markets are therefore not an easy trick of a village to make their villages more attractive for tourists, that's rather a minor effect.