Summer might not be as hot as expected for the holiday-goers of Rungis this August, but recent events have certainly got the French fresh produce industry hot under the collar.

And unfortunately, the tale is a recurring French nightmare. It unfolded early in the morning of July 3, in southern Chateaurenard, an area well-known for fruit production and fresh produce distribution. Two-hundred fruit producers, angered by price levels in the country for their produce, were demonstrating.

Nothing too unusual in France at that time of the year. But sadly, neither was it unusual to see most of them marching towards the premises of distributors, often the perfect scapegoat in their eyes.

What you would expect to happen, did. Storming the warehouses of five companies, the protesters turned each warehouse in turn upside down, destroying more than e700,000 of fruit and materials.

Even that was not enough. The day after in the local press, a producers’ union spokesperson accused Creno Impex (one of the five looted companies) of repacking Spanish fruit under a French brand name. Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of all is that amongst the mob was a local mayor whose statute is normally to enforce public order.

As you might think, the reaction from the wholesale industry was to go ballistic. The looted companies announced their intention to sue the producers’ union and the producers involved in the action. Creno is also suing the union for libel. French wholesale union president Bernard Piton was unequivocal: pledging that the industry will let justice take its course and reminding local producer areas of the non-aggression pact signed in 2001 with wholesalers.

The Union might also question the European Commission on these kind of acts of violence. This is a new response over here and it shows that intimidation did not work this time.

This is another sign the industry will not let be diverted from its primary role as fruit marketers. The producer situation is very difficult, everyone agrees, and returns to growers are sliding down.

But everyone should also agree that violence is not the answer to issues like this. Even if this has been their usual tool, producers should accept it does not work anymore.