As Carrefour Villagio enters its second week without any fruit and vegetable offerings, many customers are wondering why the produce was taken off the shelves and when it will return.  

The Peninsula reports:

The hypermarket’s management is mum on the reason why it was closed, stoking fear among its customers with regard to the safety of the products they buy from the shop. Visitors to the hypermarket were surprised of the sight of the area once filled with green vegetables now empty.

What can only be seen are empty vegetable shelves fenced around the area plastered with ‘closed’ ribbon and Municipal Ministry notices posted all over the place saying ‘By the order of Municipality this business is closed due to failure of complying with health requirements’.

An inquiry with some staff of the hypermarket revealed it was closed for about a week now and might be closed for several weeks more, but as to the reason why it was closed they refused to comment.

On social networking sites, some Doha residents expressed cynicism about the lack of produce, as it is not the first time the ministry has shuttered Carrefour Villagio’s fruit and vegetable section for health violations.

On the Expat Woman forum, one commenter writes:

As somebody described them on this forum before, most of them look that they have been sent to die. When you face the vegetables / salad of premium quality served in some lebanese restaurants, one realises how poor the quality at C4 is.

On Qatar Living, one commenter lauded the Qatari government for taking action against Carrefour:

This is good example of the government acting in the interest of the people. It is inconvenient for the shoppers but it will teach grocers a valuable lesson.

How has the closure affected you guys? Any recommendations on where to shop for the freshest produce?