As the only farm in Savoie with the HEV3 certification, Les Vergers de Châteauneuf, based near Chambery, is starting its apple and pear campaign. Member of the Ecoresponsible Orchards, the fruit growing company also has the PGI Apple and Pear of Savoie and is involved in the Savoie Mont Blanc Excellence approach.
© Les Vergers de Châteauneuf
With its own packing station, the company is the leading shipper of PGI Savoie in terms of volume and distributes its products to large retailers, professionals of the Cash&Carry sector, as well as wholesalers present on the MIN markets of Lille, Rungis and the Mediterranean coast.
The lack of pears will influence the apple demand With 40 hectares of its own production (1/4th pears, 3/4th apples), the apple harvest will start with a delay of 2 weeks this year. The demand is already high for the Gala and Reine des Reinettes varieties. The pear production has suffered significant losses but Les Vergers de Châteauneuf will be able to count on 60% of their apple harvest, with losses mainly on the Golden variety.
“This year, we will have almost no pears of Savoie. We had successfully saved about 15% of the production during the April frost thanks to sprinkling, but the hailstorm in the middle of August damaged the remaining fruits. We then buy from land similar to ours, in partnership with Alpine producers. Our wish is to develop these lines in the future and better promote pears of higher altitude in general,” explains David Gros, sales manager.
© Les Vergers de Châteauneuf
“As in the past 3 years, we don’t really know what to do with the prices. Last year, we had a lot of pears and rather high prices. This year, prices will likely increase for all varieties compared to 2020. The lack of pears will undeniably influence the apple demand. The lack of large calibers for the apples, everywhere in France, will push us to increase the prices for the standard and noble calibers, which will be in high demand. We will probably have to reorient certain markets.”
© Les Vergers de Châteauneuf
Registered to the 30,000 approach
Already guided by a desire to reduce the use of pesticides, Les Vergers de Châteauneuf have now turned to the 30,000 approach which mobilizes groups around a collective project for a significant reduction of phytosanitary substances. “We joined this project with the objective of using 50% less chemical products in favor of alternatives, within 5 years from now. This year was very complicated because of the rain. There were a lot of uncertainties but in the end, we’ve obtained very nice results. Even if we do not reach the 50% threshold, we plan to reduce, or even eliminate herbicides and insecticides by resorting to essential oils and machinery.”
The company has also favored this organic approach in order to avoid a reduction in tonnage. “With certain productions such as the pear, it is more difficult to have an organic production because the fruit cannot stand the accumulation of copper and sulfur. We also see today that the trend to consume local products is getting stronger and that it is becoming more and more important for consumers to choose proximity over organic, explains Frédéric Bergin, manager of Les Vergers de Châteauneuf.
For more information:Les Vergers de Châteauneuf
60 impasse Roseaux
ZA de Carouge 73250 Saint-Pierre-d’Albigny
Phone: 04 79 70 70 71
vergers-chateauneuf.fr