Apple growers will reportedly take to the streets on June 15 demanding the distribution of the next instalment of compensation, warned president of the Lebanese Farmers Association, Antoine Howayek. The latter uncovered that a number of meetings have been held by farmers to prepare for the protest in a bid to resolve the impasse. It should be noted, that during the past few weeks, the Higher Relief Council (HRC) distributed the first set of the allocated sums (LBP 20 billion) secured by the ministry of finance. Farmers, however, were shocked over the meagre amounts delivered to them, LBP 1000 for each apple crate instead of the pledged LBP 5000. In this context, An Nahar newspaper revealed that last year’s production is still stacked in cold storage. It said stored quantities are likely to remain in warehouses until after mid-June, because local markets are unlikely to be able to consume all the amounts before that period. On the subject, Badwi Deeb, a farmer, trader and owner of a refrigerated warehouse, told An Nahar that it not usual at this time of year that the conservation freezers are still operating. We are still waiting to receive the proceeds from apple exports to Egypt and other states, Badwi said. (An Nahar, June 8 and 9, 2017)