European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 18, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Report from shoppers still Cope with shortages Long lines by Randy Mcclain stall writer he grocery store shelves in Brasov romans seen veil stocked with jars of vegetables packages of noodles and other Staples but looks can be deceiving Baciu Donca. A local committee member with the National salvation front grabs a Container of carrots Olf the Shell the expiration Date on the Jar reads Fob 2 1988 a while Mold is growing inside and the a s lid is covered with Dusl would you like to buy this"1. Dob  asks  u Lor an animal not Lor a Man spoiled products and Ong Linos at food stores remain lads of lilo m Modem Day Romania  / most citizens say the situation a. Improved san the overthrow of dictator ivcniat1 Ceausescu but it c s much work Lett to be done shortages of sugar milk  Butler Are acute fruits meal and fresh bread arc also difficult to Lind  is a particular problem Donca said a 6  s Mont met Neopit go in a empty handed for a spoonful of sugar we Are crying inside " added Stefan Colora. A Young Engineer in . I in c the revolution against Ceausescu began Many romanians say they expect Lood shortages to persist Lor months it not years Lucia Craciun. 52. Of Bucharest said she understands this is a period of transition but the situation is not a Good one meal is the Mam article the people want Long lines form whenever meat is available in Piatra Neal. Some 300 shoppers crammed into a store no bigger than a 7 eleven one afternoon recently when word spread that beef and skimpy pork ribs were on Sale oranges also attract dozens of shoppers even though Romania s version of the fruit is More Pale yellow than Bright Orange now. We have the possibility to eat but we want to have the possibility to choose said Elena Longs cd a Bucharest Mother of two she said there is enough Lood in the shops to keep romanians alive but she wants More than the Bare essentials fruit is no t on Yonescu s shopping wish list we need oranges bananas Grapefruit oranges Lemons i would love to try a  she said most shoppers take to the streets daily in search of Lood one Day they might find Salami the next Day milk there s meat today but not tomorrow said 60 year old a cadence Georgescu of Bucharest Gheorghe Cocan. A Mechanic in Brasov. Said to goes shopping every Day out of ear to ii miss a Good buy i come Tor Lood. But Many Days there a nothing edible he said in Brasov and a number of old cities food rationing continues on such items eggs cooking Oil Ham Salami Heel. Hour and sugar resident an required to shop at neighbourhood stores whore then Lett a customer and a seller Haggle Over the Price of apples in a Market in Brasov. Romania. Above Baciu Dobrica examines outdated items on a store Shell. Names Are kept in a giant Ledger. Every Purchase is written Down in Ink in february shoppers in Brasov were limited to live eggs Lor the month a kilogram of Heel and 500 Grams of Chicken Georgescu said some shops violate the rules on rationing some people get More than others she said people try to buy More than they need because they Aren t sure there la be Lood the next Day " big City department stores have More merchandise than the food stores but shoppers complain about High prices and poor Quality we Havo exported so much to Havo Given away All our fines Winter Coats a Cornescu said conditions Aio better than in the past but not Good enough " said Marcela and Nijiu a student in Bucharest since last autumn. I be been looking Lor rubber boots there Are none to be Lounck she said still. The majority of rom mans remain hop Olvil we know our economic disaster is widespread. Georgescu said but we should t  too much Loo quickly we must have patience a Long line of shoppers stretches into the distance outside a store in Brasov. Page 16 the stars and stripes sunday february 18. 1990