A few days before the start of the month of Ramadan, the markets and Souks are bustling. And for good reason: the preparations for this holy month have a double symbolism for Moroccan housewives, one linked to their attachment to traditions, and the other, more particular, is felt as a witness and proof of their culinary know-how.

In Marrakech where tradition and modernity coexist, through the modern city and the Medina, the rush to the shops is in full swing. For a few days now, and until late at night, the animation in the different districts of the city is most festive. On the Medina side, the rituals preceding the month of Ramadan cannot go unnoticed, so much do the smells and perfumes of the "Chabakia" waft from everywhere. At every street corner, at every corner of a "derb", trays of this famous cake call out to passers-by, to such an extent that even diabetics and other people on dietary regimes cannot help but make a small exception. As for the supply, we learn that everything has been undertaken so that the consumer lacks nothing and that the traders do not resort to any fraudulent practices. This is, moreover, what emerged from the meeting last Monday which took place at the wilaya of Marrakech, and during which the wali emphasised the need to carry out regular checks and to set up commissions whose mission will be to ensure the normal supply of markets, to monitor prices, and to ensure the good quality of products. Moreover, a tour of the various markets of the city gives a fairly clear idea of the abundance of consumer goods, satisfaction with the display of prices, and the diversity of products. On this subject, a trader at the Bab El Mellah market confides: "As you can see, everything the housewife could ask for is there, displayed in a healthy way, which establishes a certain trust between clients and sellers. As for the prices, they are displayed as stipulated by law, and differ from one product to another". Indeed, on this subject, for example, just for dates, prices can range from 15 to 100 DH and even more, and this depends on the quality, the origin, and the abundance of the product. As for eggs, another product highly consumed in this holy month, they are experiencing a slight increase. This is due, as this seller at the "biadas" market explains to us, to the high heat that the country has been experiencing in recent days and to the strong demand caused by the month of Ramadan. Regarding other products, especially the ingredients that are most in demand during this period, their prices vary according to their origin. Local lentils and chickpeas are rare and cost more than imported ones. This does not prevent the housewife from asking for the local product, because, "even more expensive, it gives a special flavour to our soup", a fifty-year-old woman who was doing her shopping at the wholesale market, located in the Al Izdihar district, confided to us. Alongside all this, there is a strong demand for semolina, corn, and cracked wheat. This is explained, as a trader declares to us, by the fact that unlike other years, because of discomfort due to indigestion, people are starting to consume much more of what are called "white soups", which are, in everyone's opinion, more dietary.

In short, all the markets of the ochre city give satisfaction regarding the supply of consumer goods during the month of Ramadan. Everything is ready to guarantee the consumer a normal supply and apart from the heat which is worrying a little bit, everything is up to standard.