The Minister for Territorial Cohesion, Ana Abrunhosa, clarified today that open-air markets could remain open and street stalls are allowed, as a measure to help small producers sell local products.
While talking to journalists, she said “It is not for nothing that markets continue to be open and street stalls allowed. We did everything we could to ensure the continuation and distribution of regional products that, even in times of pandemic, we all need to consume.”
She went on to say that she understands that small producers are suffering from distribution difficulties and this is why the government did not include the closure of markets, nor ban street stalls in their measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
When challenged she replied, “I am not saying that there is no impact, I am saying that if there is one thing that we all have to do during the pandemic is eat and because we have to continue to eat, we have to guarantee distribution. She then challenged producers to actively promote themselves through online platforms.”
Samantha Gannon
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