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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2012 19:00:01 GMT
I have lived in Paris for 39 years, so it is rather incredible that this was my very first visit to the Salon de l'Agriculture, which is perhaps the #1 trade show event of the year in Paris. It gets an incredible amount of press every year, not to mention the news reports on television and the fact that every major politician -- President first of all -- is honour-bound to make a visit to the show. I don't know why I never went in the past, except that I am not of "city origin" so I did not feel a need to see cows and chickens. I have seen them many times in my life, so big deal about seeing them in Paris, right? At the same time, the news reports always mention the incredible joy of little city kids being able to touch farm animals for the first time in their life and to find out where things like eggs come from. Mention is also made of the pride of the farmers to bring their prize animals to the big city for the first time and to show that rural France is important and that Paris is not everything. There is not at all a conflict between urban France and rural France, but there is a major incomprehension and confusion of the realities of their lives. I have lived on metro line 12 for the last 20 years, and it just happens to be the same metro line where the agriculture show is located, so I have travelled with the "peasants" for a week many times, seeing their excitement of being in Paris, their fear of urban ways and the whole electricity of showing their prize animals to the elite -- of course including their confreres. I think it has changed in recent years because more and more farm spouses also make the journey, but the Salon de l'Agriculture was also very famous for allowing the farmers to live out their sexual phantasms -- it was a well-known fact that the prostitutes of Paris had to work overtime during this event, the same as the 14th of July when all of the soldiers are in town. Many of these farmers were coming to Paris for the first time in their life, and it was important for them to get the "full" big city experience -- and even if they came every year, it was an event that they fantasized about all the rest of the time. So anyway, here we go. I must warn you that it is going to go on and on for some time. The agriculture show was only occupying 5 buildings of the exposition center at Porte de Versailles, but each building is bigger than a shopping mall. And building 7 counts double, because it has two levels.
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Post by onlymark on Feb 27, 2012 19:19:02 GMT
I find it difficult to understand how people, especially kids and teenagers, don't know where eggs come from or milk etc. I know it's not just in France but often in the UK as well. What is the world coming to?
Anyway - ".........and even if they came every year, it was an event that they fantasized about all the rest of the time."
There's a pun/double entendre in there I just can't ignore.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2012 19:43:41 GMT
I agree, Mark -- I find it incredible that kids often have no idea of the source of food, and one good thing is that parents find it extremely important to bring their children to this event, when they do not come as a school group. (But right now, there are school holidays in the Paris metropolitan area.) There were shops for trinkets.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2012 20:35:10 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 27, 2012 21:28:39 GMT
Fourth photo from the bottom - I like the before and after thought of the cow and the steak pictures above it. I can imagine some harassed overstressed teacher with some inner city kids pointing and saying, "Look - cow, beefburger. Why don't you just bloody believe me this once?" and, "If you behave I'll show you an egg coming out of a chicken's arse." To a resounding chorus of "Eeeeew, really? Gross."
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 28, 2012 2:56:23 GMT
Geez -- what did it smell like in there?
You really took some amazing pictures & the text is super interesting. But that pic of the cattle looking out at the Charal stand reminded me of Baron Harkonnen ripping the ear off the living living cow in Dune. Seriously, the pictures of the nice cows, particularly the brown curly one, followed by McDonald's signs made me think seriously about vegetarianism. (but not giving up cheese)
Did you buy me a cow statuette? I really like those!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2012 5:49:04 GMT
Frankly, the aroma of the place was quite farmlike but not overwhelming. I think that on real farms, everything gets soaked with the smells over a period of years and years. At an exhibition hall, this is not the case, and of course all of the straw gets changed every single day, and the big animals get daily baths, which I'm sure is not the case at home.
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 28, 2012 6:09:03 GMT
Pigville!
That black eared sheepy looks as though it escaped from a Nativity scene -- adorable.
What the heck is a Jesus sandwich?
Did you get any interesting goat cheeses to take home?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2012 6:16:56 GMT
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Post by bjd on Feb 28, 2012 8:04:27 GMT
Bixa, Jesus is a kind of sausage from eastern France. (Don't tell any of the Republican presidential candidates.)
Keraouac, that last chicken picture reminds me of when our kids were younger and we had to go visit my in-laws at their summer house in Mayenne. As we got to that area of France, the kids thought it was hilarious to call out "Loué soit mon poulet!" every time they saw a Loué sign.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2012 15:52:59 GMT
One thing to know about the Salon de l'Agriculture is that it is not all about farm animals, although that it one of its main drawing cards, particularly for families with children. And it also brings many rural French (and other Europeans) for a rare trip to Paris that they can justify to themselves more easily than all of that city slicker tourism. It also operates like state/county fairs in the United States, because there are awards for best animal (biggest, best proportioned, finest example of the species, prettiest, fluffiest....) and this is really important for farmers -- to be recognized as the best at what they do. It is very much a matter of pride for the participants and many visitors -- the absolutely essential regional pride in France that shows the Parisians that they are not #1 for everything. I love to see the joy on the faces of the people at their stands, because they really love to explain what they do and why their region is so wonderful. (Naturally, I would have to exclude a few of the giant corporate stands from this, since they just hire locals to hand out brochures and such.) Anyway, the next part of the expo was a lot calmer, because it was devoted to intermediate industries that process agricultural projects and also to the various government agencies that are involved in the rural world -- the forestry service, the food control sector and even the national electricity company which has to build its huge pylons through the forests and fields while doing as little damage as possible. This section is mostly to give kids and young adults ideas for jobs they can do working outside if they are allergic to the idea of sitting behind a desk for 40 years.
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 28, 2012 15:59:02 GMT
Thanks, Bjd, & your warning is duly noted!
The caption, How will these peaceful creatures be prepared? made me gulp a little, although it's darkly funny. I went with a friend from the US to a giant rural market a couple of weeks ago. A man was leading some goats to his truck & she was somewhat appalled to hear that they'd be eaten. This was someone who should know better.
Kerouac, I read your OP introduction and understand the importance of this show as an exhibition. But does it have a trade aspect as well? Is this where cattlemen would come to broker deals, for instance?
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 28, 2012 16:01:15 GMT
Sorry -- we simul-posted. You inadvertently answered most of my question. Thanks.
I wanna go to the beer and gardening stands!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2012 16:06:14 GMT
I saw that a lot of the chicken cages had "sold" signs on them, and I presume that it is the same for most of the other animals, but I wasn't really looking for that. I am certain that a lot of the farmers get together for all sorts of wheeling and dealing every day.
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Post by bjd on Feb 28, 2012 17:48:49 GMT
I hadn't realized that there was a gardening area selling bulbs and plants.
I forgot to mention that some of those chicken pictures are really great.
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Post by mich64 on Feb 28, 2012 18:11:55 GMT
This was so interesting to follow. I can imagine that the chick incubator exhibit must have a line up like when entering the Louvre trying to find the Mona Lisa.
You can surmise how long a history this event must have as it looks so well presented and organized. I think I would find it very educational and enjoyable.
McDonald's must be there to try and convince the public that the pink foam Internet photo is an urban legend.
I would want to meet up with Bixa at the Beer and gardening stands!
Cheers! Mich
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2012 18:21:36 GMT
There were other cooking apprentices under major media scrutiny.
The expert said "Never crack an egg directly on the side of the cooking implement. This prevents any piece of shell from falling into the dish." Of course, at the Salon de l'Agriculture, he would have never mentioned the possibility of the nauseating sludge of 'black eggs' which I discovered for the first time a few months ago. I am still somewhat frightened whenever I crack an egg now after having endured that horrible sight. Moving on, our Canadian friends had to be present. McCain is #1 in the world for frozen potato products and it very certainly holds the #1 position in France for french fries and all of the other variations.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2012 18:34:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2012 18:45:29 GMT
Please bear with me. I will get to the interesting stuff soon.
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Post by onlymark on Feb 28, 2012 19:49:31 GMT
I see many stalls of different nationalities, but no UK/GB?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2012 20:05:36 GMT
No, I did not see anything from the UK! Ireland was there, however.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2012 20:48:56 GMT
Anyway, it was time to go to building 7, the largest of all with two levels. This is the pavilion that holds the most interest for Parisian visitors and quite a few non-farmers from elsewhere. It is mostly a food extravaganza of all of the regions of France. It is a really long way from the Porte de Versailles entrance, so they have created a path to it that is nearly a kilometer long with moving walkways and escalators -- it is in fact on the other side of the périphérique.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2012 22:33:28 GMT
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Post by mich64 on Feb 29, 2012 2:26:10 GMT
Thank you for the menu boards! I enjoy when my friends suggest a wine, there if far to much to learn about knowing what makes one or the other good.
Cheers! Mich
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Post by fumobici on Feb 29, 2012 4:47:04 GMT
This thread is strangely hypnotic to me. It's like every state fair I've ever been to but 100x more. I'm ready for the next 500 photos when it is convenient.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2012 6:16:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2012 18:45:56 GMT
Okay, anybody who has come this far probably has indigestion by now. I have pretty much exhausted the food photos. I've never seen this name for dragon fruit before. One thing is sure. All of overseas France is involved in the rum industry. And then I left building 7.... I confess that I did not go for a tractor ride. You know what? I was running low on energy by now. I did not have a single refreshment. I made it a point of honour to go to the horse-donkey-mule-dog-cat building nevertheless. Some of you may remember my report about the horse show, so I was not fascinated. But I must admit that I really like the huge work horses compared to those sissy fragile shiny horses. [photobucket height=480 width=640]http://s450.photobucket.com/albums/qq228/kerouac2/Salon%20Agri/?action=view¤t=ba599700.pbw[/photobucket] And yet these horses create big crowds. Vive les chevaux robustes! But please stop making stupid braids with their tails!
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Post by bjd on Feb 29, 2012 19:22:55 GMT
Thank you for sacrificing yourself for Any Port, Kerouac. I would probably have left after checking out the garden centre.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2012 19:28:24 GMT
As for dogs and cats at an agricultural show, give me a break. These dogs were miserable being there. I didn't even take any pictures of the poor terrified cats. However, there were hunting horns. There were knives. There were casquettes for rural folk. Few people outside of the Basque region would be caught dead in a beret. More absolute junk. Okay, I did take a look at the poor donkeys and mules. And then it was time for me to leave. Since then I have seen television reports about so many things I missed. Wheat farmers, for example. How could I have missed that? The last thing I observed was that Carrefour had rented every single advertising surface in the metro station. I don't know if I will ever return, but it was an amazing visit.
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Post by mich64 on Feb 29, 2012 19:51:24 GMT
Hmmm, not to sure why there would be cats and dogs showcased at the Agricultural Fair either.
This was really informative and what an extensive exhibition.
This summer we are visiting friends for a weekend in June who own and live on a farm that has a massive horse stable. He owns and breeds Clydesdale horses, these are gigantic horses. He also is requested by stable owners all over the world to come and shoe their horses. I cannot wait to go, it will be our first visit to his place, he usually comes to visit here to get away and fish. I will have my camera and photograph as much as I can.
Cheers! Mich
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