In Béziers, between 4,000 and 7,000 grape growers demonstrated to call on the government to act “quickly” in the face of the crisis

Professionals in the sector are calling for action to reduce standards and limit the negative impact of free trade on their revenues.

Foreign competition and mass distribution driving prices down, standards deemed too restrictive, global warming… Thousands of grape growers expressed their disappointment on Saturday, November 15, in Béziers (Hérault). Between 4,000 demonstrators, according to the prefecture, and 7,000, according to organizers, marched peacefully only interrupted by the explosion of firecrackers, AFP and France Télévisions reported.

Members of the Rural Coordination detonated yellow and black smoke bombs bearing their images and, on the part of the FNSEA, we rejoiced because “between 4,000 and 6,000 (demonstrator)it was a success for us.”analysis of Jean-Pascal Pelagatti, secretary general of FDSEA Hérault, a departmental branch of the first agricultural union.

“We are suffocated by standards. We are drowning in taxes. We are lied to about prices. And while we struggle to survive, other countries export wine at the price of water. Others sell bottles for the price of a modest coffee”said Romain Angelras, president of Young Farmers (JA) Gard. “Today we were told about food sovereignty. But our politicians sacrificed it for the sake of free trade. Grape growers will not remain silent. We need urgent answers now!”

“Madam Minister, act quickly, grape growers have no more time to wait” because if nothing happens, “the entire wine-growing region of the south will be colored red”involving Jérôme Despey, grape grower, vice president of the FNSEA and president of the Hérault chamber of agriculture. “Wine is not the public enemy, it is culture, it is heritage and it is a pleasure and a sharing at the table”he said from a platform set up in front of the city’s theater.

The Prefect of Hérault, François-Xavier Lauch, announced that a delegation of grape growers would be received on November 24 by the Ministry of Agriculture. The day before the major Sitevi trade fair which is being held in Montpellier from November 25 to 27, and where the Minister of Agriculture, Annie Genevard, is expected to attend.

He had received representatives from this sector on November 6. According to the president of Independent Winegrowers, Jean-Marie Fabre, “three levers” to take action to start a way out of the crisis already mentioned: cash flow support in the form, in particular, of consolidation loans, new grubbing plans for 35,000 hectares of land (out of 780,000 hectares of French vines) and more support in terms of international trade.