Ferme du Pont d'Achelle has been offering sweet potatoes to its clients for over 10 years. Although the early days were difficult, the Thomas family now knows this relatively technical crop very well. "It is a plant of tropical origin, so we obviously had to make a few adaptations in order to grow it in the north of France. It is a product that requires a great deal of maturing once harvested. There is a curing phase at 25 to 30°C that allows the product to reveal all its flavors and organoleptic qualities. This is a rather delicate and technical stage on which the storage and preservation of the tuber depend. Today, we can offer sweet potatoes 9 months out of 12," explains Olivier Thomas.
Lower yields this year
The Thomas family grows sweet potatoes on 1.5 hectares, with yields varying between 40 and 50 tons. "We grow them in tunnels and open fields. Given its origin, it is a plant that needs heat. This year, we had a lot of rain and little heat, which was detrimental to volumes. Generally speaking, yields are down in the north of France, 15% to 30% lower depending on the farm."
Sweet potato consumption increases year-on-year
The Thomas family decided to launch this new production method to keep pace with the increase in consumption. "It is a product that has become increasingly popular over the last few years. It is grown everywhere, and the competition from other origins, notably Egypt and Latin America, is very tough for the local French production. There are also several varieties, to suit everyone's tastes. Here, we grow the traditional variety with orange flesh, as well as three other varieties, one with pink flesh, another with pink/white flesh, and one that is completely white."
Ferme du Pont d'Achelle offers a very wide range of fruit and vegetables, even in winter, but the shop will be even busier when one of its flagship products arrives in early March: the asparagus.
For more information:
Olivier Thomas et Françoise Thomas
La Ferme du Pont d'Achelles
Phone: +33(0)3 20 48 60 43
[email protected]
https://www.lafermedupontdachelles.fr