The Minister of Rural Development and Food, Margaritis Schinas, visited the Central Wholesale Market of Thessaloniki, making his first field visit since assuming his duties. Mr. Schinas arrived at the wholesale market at 5 AM, during peak hours for product distribution, without prior notice. His presence surprised the traders, who welcomed him positively, watching as he conversed and moved among them.
“You are the first Minister of Rural Development to visit us,” said Yannis Charalambidis, president of the Thessaloniki Central Wholesale Market Traders Association, welcoming him. He informed the minister that there is adequate supply for Easter, prices are low and stable, but foot traffic at the wholesale market is not as expected.
Mr. Schinas also spoke with the association’s vice president, Dimitris Gravanis, and secretary George Moutsogiannis, and committed that there will be a meeting to discuss the issues that concern them.
The Central Wholesale Market of Thessaloniki operates 280 stores in four wings and the Traders Association has 320 members. The Minister of Rural Development and Food walked through the corridors and had the opportunity to chat with traders and customers who were loading products onto trucks to transport them to markets at that hour. He listened to their concerns about high prices and exchanged Easter wishes.
Margaritis Schinas: Visit to municipal slaughterhouse in Halkidiki
Subsequently, the minister traveled to Nea Triglia in Halkidiki, where he was received by the mayor of Nea Propontida, Manolis Karras, and New Democracy MP Yannis Giorgos. During the meeting at the town hall, they discussed projects of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food that are underway in the region.
Together they visited the municipal slaughterhouse of Nea Triglia, where 600 pigs are slaughtered monthly and last year 4,500-5,000 lambs and kids were slaughtered, and the irrigation dam under construction at the “Platania” site, with a budget of 6,390,000 euros.
