The strawberry season has begun for Savéol. The traditional Gariguette arrived on the market in March, and this year, it will be followed by a new variety: the Floriguette.
© Savéol The Gariguette is tart, and the Floriguette is sweet
"The new Floriguette variety differs from the Gariguette in its taste. While the Gariguette is tart, the Floriguette is milder, with a very subtle, lingering flavor. It also has a higher-than-average Brix level (8 for the season). Its shape is slightly less elongated than the Gariguette, and its color is also different, with a bright red tone that is very appealing," explains Pierrick L'Eost, strawberry grower and vice president of Savéol.
The new variety will support the Gariguette volumes in May
If the Floriguette has found its place in Savéol's varietal portfolio, it is because it meets the company's requirements to fill a period when the demand for strawberries generally exceeds the available supply. "Our Gariguette production, which is very early, represents around 80% of our strawberry volumes. However, the Gariguette production curve drops significantly in May, which is a very favorable time for strawberry consumption. Although we already grow varieties in this niche, they do not meet all our criteria, such as workload, plant and fruit quality, disease susceptibility, production curve... The demand for taste, as we position ourselves exclusively on premium strawberries, also makes it difficult to grow new varieties. The Floriguette meets most of our expectations and requirements, so it was a natural fit for Savéol."
© Savéol
Production of 85 tons by 2025, which should be multiplied by 4 from 2026
This new variety will be available from now until the end of June in the early fruit markets and small local shops selling top-of-the-range produce, mainly in the west of France and the Paris region. "We expect to sell around 85 tons this year. Production will cover around 15,000 m2. But the Floriguette is just as popular with our growers as it is with our clients and consumers, and production is set to quadruple next year!"
For more information:
Savéol
77 rue du Père Gwenaël
29470 Plougastel Daoulas
saveol.com