Selling fruit almost at a ‘golden price’ is not forbidden.
The price practiced by some of the exotic fruit traders in the Farmers’ Market, often visited by tourists, has been questioned for a long time by many Madeiran (and tourist), who cannot find an objective reason to sell “anonas , for example, at 20-30 euros per kilo or more “, reported a reader to DN.
The situation is not new and can often be assisted in some sections of the Farmers’ Market, where people are forced to try some exotic fruit, which is then sold at exorbitant prices. In addition to complaints arriving at DN, these complaints are also left on various digital platforms, in which travellers evaluate where they have gone. For example, by visiting the TripAdvsisor site, you can read several negative reviews to the Farmers Market, which are related to the practice of prices which, for many, seem surreal.
Inspection for sale of fruit.
Recently, the Regional Authority for Economic Activities (ARAE), together with the Municipality of Funchal (CMF), carried out an inspection, which focused on the commercial practices of the sale of fruit in ambulant stands, as well as in the two Municipal Markets of Funchal: Mercado dos Lavradores e o Mercado da Penteada.
Of the inspection carried out by these two entities, 13 itinerant operators and eight in the two markets mentioned above were targeted. Questioned by the DN, ARAE explained that, in practical terms, the supervision in its charge focused on commercial practices, namely price fixing, indication of the denomination of origin of the product, quality of the economic agent and measurement of metrology (scales) and told DN that “no occurrences were recorded to determine a process of misconduct”.
Similarly, a source from the municipality of Funchal, an entity that supervised the compliance with the rules defined in the notice, also confided to the DN that “there were no occurrences to register” in the respective inspection, which involved, in all, 22 points of sale of fruit ( and Markets).
Regarding the ‘old’ questions raised regarding the prices practice by traders who work in the Farmers’ Market, ARAE’s maximum inspector, Rafaela Fernandes, added that “the market is free and the principle of free competition applies.”
Basically they can charge what they like and if the price is shown which is normally the case on a scruffy bit of cardboard, then its down to the buyer to be careful. The Tourist Board insist on continually promoting the Market, and tourists are always going to be taken advantage of.
Most of the fruit they let you try on the stands has been laced with sugar, if you hang around long enough you will see them doing this.
MY ADVISE – DO NOT BUY ANYTHING IN THE MARKET AREA, LET ALL SUFFER TILL SOMETHING IS DONE. That is my opinion, and I have always said this and have reported this on my blog a number of times.