Today, the class awoke at the crack of dawn to visit the Rungis International Marche. Rungis Marche is located in Paris of the southern suburbs and is currently the largest wholesale food market in the world. Our tour guide was an in informative and inviting woman named Natalie. Before venturing out on our tour she gave us a few outstanding fun facts on Rungis. Each year Rungis Marche receives over three billion euros a year in revenue. Incredible business! There are five different types of categories of the market including Fish, Meats, Dairy, Florals and Fruits/Vegetables which is the most lucrative and largest in space having eight warehouses dedicated to their category alone.

What I found especially interesting is how early and quick the buying and selling happens between purveyors and customers. For the fish warehouse activity begins in the middle of the night at 2am and ends 6am way before most of us wake up in the morning for our day. In many businesses the early bird gets the worm and here at Rungis Marche the motto is no different. Buyers coming from all over France whether from restaurants, bakeries, supermarkets trying their best to be the first ones at the door to get the freshest ingredients, best deals and widest selections.

In my experience I enjoyed the visit. I was able to see all the action and work that goes into food before it is served on a plate in front of me.  I will open a restaurant or catering service of some sort in the future and this information is great to have. In the market, my senses were alive. For the first time I was smelling truly ripe, fragrant raspberries and seeing super shiny, completely clear eyed catches of the day. It was a positive, insightful, experience. Who knows, one day I will come back buying produce, meats and cheeses for my very own eatery and I can use all the cool tips and knowledge I gained today.