Good news for those of us who love shopping in open markets, whether indoors or out: they’re thriving in France. After years of growth by hypermarkets and supermarkets, the tide appears to have turned with creation of over 100 new markets every year.
The markets, some indoors and some with regular outdoor locations, usually feature local produce and specialty food products that vary from city to city and region to region. They operate anywhere from daily to once a week; sometimes several towns in an area will stagger their markets so that there’s one nearby every day.
In many towns and cities, new markets are seen as an important feature in revitalizing city centers, part of the reason the nation’s total has grown to more than 10,600 markets.
Photo: Wednesday Market, St-Remy-de-Provence (PHeymont/TravelGumbo)
