Fresh produce is handed out for free at the open-air market of Agios Antonios. Photo credit FOSPHOTOS / Aggeliki Koronaiou
While the government maintains that a ‘Grecovery,’ is underway there was little evidence of it on the streets of Athens and Thessaloniki on Wednesday.
Producers and sellers at the traditional open-air markets (laikes agores) are currently on strike in protest of planned reforms to the markets included in a bill submitted to parliament by the Ministry of Development and Competition. Producers claim the reforms favour large agri-business interests over the traditional markets which have long been sources of cheap fresh produce for many Greek families.
Rather than let their produce rot while the markets remain closed, the producers announced they would give it away for free as a form of protest. The announcement led to long lines and pandemonium on Wednesday as hundreds of citizens turned up to obtain bags of free fruit and vegetables. The scenes which unfolded in Athens, Thessaloniki and other Greek cities once again highlighted how for all the talk of Greece’s economic recovery many Greek families are still struggling just to put food on the table. The protests are set to continue as producers remain firm in their rejection of the government’s proposed reforms.