Farmers’ protest: Dealers warn of empty supermarket shelves

The farmers are protesting and blocking nationwide. In the Berlin/Brandenburg region, this could have consequences for consumers as early as tomorrow, warns a trade association. In view of the farmers’ protests in and around Berlin, the Berlin-Brandenburg trade association is warning of supply bottlenecks and restrictions for consumers. “Hundreds of supermarkets in Berlin will not receive deliveries of goods tomorrow,” said Nils Busch-Petersen, general manager of the Berlin-Brandenburg trade association, to t-online. “If the situation doesn’t change suddenly, we have to assume that shelves could remain empty tomorrow.” The reason for this was protests in Großbeeren, about 20 kilometers south of the capital. According to consistent reports, farmers there blocked the access routes to a wholesale market. According to Busch-Petersen, many stores in Berlin and Brandenburg are supplied from there. “The farmers’ association doesn’t have its people under control” The protest apparently has nothing to do with the blockades announced by the farmers’ association; those responsible cannot currently be identified. Busch-Petersen has no understanding of this. What kind of farmers are they who don’t care whether their products go to markets or not, he asks. “What we predicted is happening: the farmers’ association does not have its people under control.” He calls for tough action by the farmers’ association as well as the police. “We expect the rule of law to prevail,” said Busch-Petersen. “We expect that with New Year’s Eve riots in Neukölln, we expect that here too.” Busch-Petersen fears the consequences otherwise – and not just in the current week of protests. Otherwise he fears that such blockades will repeat themselves and cause enormous damage to trade. “This is close to anarchy.”