Romanian farmers demand crackdown on 'fake producers' inflating vegetable prices

Romanian vegetable producers are urging nationwide market controls to combat intermediaries who they claim are artificially inflating prices. Farmers from southern Romania have been selling produce directly to consumers in Cisnădie, Sibiu county, responding to invitations from buyers seeking better prices. This direct sales initiative has also seen interest from other regions like Târgu Mureș, Brașov, and Alba Iulia.

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We have also been contacted by people from Târgu Mureș, Brașov, Sebeș, Mediaș, and Alba Iulia.

Farmers argue that while honest traders are necessary, many intermediaries are exploiting producer certificates to operate as resellers without proper fiscalization. These individuals, according to farmer Mihai Chesnoiu, present themselves as producers but engage in large-scale reselling, often complaining about handling large volumes of goods while simultaneously buying up farmers' produce at low prices. Chesnoiu insists these individuals should be organized under a legal framework rather than operating under producer certificates.

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They present themselves as producers and, if they don't present themselves properly, they don't do us any favors.

The producers are calling on authorities, including agricultural directorates and APIA (Agency for Payments and Intervention in Agriculture), to investigate. They suggest using drones and traceability systems to verify crop yields against quantities declared on producer certificates and sold in markets. This, they believe, would expose those falsely claiming producer status and disrupting the market. Farmers feel that while fiscally regulated traders work with warehouses and retail chains, they are left vulnerable to these "false producers" who profit without fair contribution.

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They should be brought into line. They should be framed within some form of legal organization. They can no longer work on producer certificates.