After the cherry, it is now the apple's turn for an online questionnaire, which should help 104 families of Golden apple producers in the Alpes de Haute Durance.
© CQLP?! The apple is the 2nd most consumed fruit in France today, after the banana.
Aging orchards and competition from Eastern Europe
"Faced with competition and aging orchards, producers need help to replant new trees and continue their trade in the long term," according to consumer brand C'est Qui Le Patron?. Today, half of the fruits and vegetables consumed in France are imported. In the last 20 years, France's food self-sufficiency rate has dropped by 14%. Every day, France has lost 1.25 hectares of apple orchards over the last 10 years. French apple orchards are aging, so production is falling, the workload is greater, and the apples are less valuable. Additionally, Polish orchards, which are younger and more productive, are taking up more and more space in the French market.
© CQLP?!
"Without this remuneration, we would rather stop than replant"
Faced with this situation, more and more professionals are turning to the approach. "We are getting calls from growers saying that they need an extra 34 cents on 1kg of apples to get by and that without this payment, they would rather stop than replant. That represents an extra €4.08 [4.41 USD] a year per consumer."
© CQLP?!
The questionnaire for drawing up the specifications is online until June 6th, 2025
The questionnaire used to draw up the specifications is now online. Through this questionnaire, consumers can select the elements of the product specification being voted on according to their convictions and consumption habits. Once the votes are closed, the specifications are drawn up, and the product is created. The questionnaire includes the following elements:
- The origin of the apples (Origin of no importance, European Union origin or French origin);
- The producer's remuneration (remuneration in line with market prices, remuneration that enables the producer not to lose money, or remuneration that enables the producer to be paid a fair price);
- The type of farming (conventional, sustainable farming, eco-responsible orchards, or organic farming);
- The appearance of the apples (slight defects authorized /cat. I and II, no aesthetic defects /cat. I); and finally, size and packaging (small and medium-sized apples in 1.5kg bags - between 8 and 12 apples, or large apples in 1kg trays - 6 apples).
For more information:
© CQLP?! C'est Qui Le Patron ?!
Consumer Brand
elsa@lamarqueduconsommateur.com
cestquilepatron.com