Thebes farmers turn Syntagma into open-air market

Page last updated at 07:22 GMT, Wednesday, January 25, 2012 - 12:22 EST

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In an original campaign to refute reports that their produce is tainted by industrial waste that makes its way to their crops' irrigation systems from the Asopos River, a group of farmers from Thebes on Wednesday set up a makeshift open-air market on the capital's main square, distributing produce for free.

Hundreds of people formed long queues at the Syntagma Square «market» to take advantage of the bags of fresh fruit and vegetables being handed out by the farmers. There was no shortage of minor scuffles and loud verbal exchanges as people tried to grab produce off the stands.

Vassilis Katsaras, one of the farmers promoting his produce at Syntagma, said that «talk about alleged traces of heavy metals and depleted chromium in the crops of Thebes spreads fear and panic among the public. By doing this they are leading to our ruination, forcing us to sell our land for peanuts.»

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