Farmers Undercut Large Retailers in Potato Revolt

Greek farmers have taken to selling their produce directly to consumers in a move to push down prices and cut out retailers they accuse of profiteering. In a climate of harsh austerity, soaring unemployment and diminishing income, thousands of Greeks are flocking to makeshift markets where farmers are reportedly selling their produce at less than half of supermarket prices. This action, mainly involving the sale of potatoes, was started by activists in the town of Katerini at the foot of Mount Olympus, but is quickly spreading across Greece. According to the volunteers in Katerini, Sunday saw the sale of 75 tons of potatoes to over 1000 consumers.

The initiative by Pieria Volunteer Action Group, which organised the first direct trade between growers and consumers, stirred up a good deal of conversation online. Orders are taken online, with consumers picking up their goods at a parking lot.
Many complain that retail prices are not dropping in line with falling incomes in debt-laden Greece, making direct action necessary. People less affected by austerity have also resorted to buying food directly from the growers, however, to protest what they call price-fixing by retailers.
Farmers also stand to gain from the arrangement as they are no longer competing with foreign imports in supermarkets. They have also started selling their produce directly to consumers in Greece’s second city, Thessaloniki.
According to one local resident, the university in Thessaloniki is now providing small plots of land for anyone wishing to grow their own vegetables.
(source: storyful)