Milan, polemics over first farmers' market

Milan Farmer’s market, where food and beverages are sold that don't cover long distances on expensive and polluting means of transport, was supposed to offer “Quality products at reasonable prices”. But since the very first day a wave of disappointment has pervaded customers and bounced on Italian dailies as prices, which were expected to be lower than in traditional distribution channels, were on the contrary quite expensive.
In any case every Wednesday morning until December 17th, in the venue of Farmers' Cooperative of Milan and Lodi in Ripamonti street, it will be possible to buy without any intermediary high quality food and the freshest in-season fruits and vegetables which was cultivated and prepared locally: a new way to allow everybody to taste the scents and flavours of the region. Not certainly to save money and face the rising economic crisis, as someone had outlined.
The initiative was promoted by Coldiretti, the organisation that supports agriculture and protects farmers’ rights, together with the Farmers’ Cooperative.
All the consumers entering the market will be given a ‘seasonal shopping calendar’, which shows the main kinds of fruit and vegetables grown in the north of Italy and when to buy them.