The association discussed current events affecting the markets, such as discussions surrounding parks in Luxembourg City, as well as the markets themselves.
One core discussion point centered on improving the times of the market held on Place Guillaume II, whereas another concerned keeping markets a valued part of Luxembourg's heritage.
The traditional spot to buy produce was and remains the weekly market. The tradition held its own up until the mid-1980s in Luxembourg, all the while battling an expanding supermarket sector. Markets have long struggled to compete with supermarkets, but have recently experienced an upturn in momentum.
As Niki Kirsch, president of the association, explained, many local villages no longer saw the demand for a weekly market and they gradually disappeared. However, recent closures - of banks, of delis, and other local shops - have led to an increase in popularity of markets and as a means to revitalise a village. Kirsch nevertheless highlighted the struggles of starting a market from scratch.
The demand is certainly there. Markets both on Place Guillaume II and throughout the country are being visited by a whole new wave of customers, namely young families keen to know more about the food they consume.
These days, the weekly market is fast becoming the place to pick fresh and local produce.
As opposed to visiting supermarkets, customers show a renewed focus on how fresh produce is, how competent vendors are, and the atmosphere of the market in general. Kirsch explained: "The atmosphere is completely different to a supermarket. You can ask vendors all kinds of questions, like how long a lettuce will keep, where and how they should be stored, and how to prepare them."
Another important subject at the AGM was the organic action plan, which foresees 20% of Luxembourg's produce being organic by 2025. The market association stressed that vendors must promote not only the message of organic food, but also the justification of the associated price increase to customers.
Kirsch pointed out that depending on the organic product, this can mean a harvest reduced by 20 to 30%. In turn, suppliers will have to balance the price so that farmers can live off the sales. Sometimes, Kirsch said, customers do not clearly understand this transition due to a lack of discussion in public circles.
This pricing scale is a continued risk for marketplaces: customers might not want to - or be able to - afford the increase but for now, the market association will weather that storm.
Currently the focus remains on the Place Guillaume II market which is due to expand, the new season, which began in March, saw five new vendor applications.
