The Grenoble Walnut PDO currently only covers walnuts in shell, but the Interprofessional Committee of the Grenoble Walnut (CING) wants to make the kernel a PDO as well. This is “our project for 2024,” explains Arnaud Rivière, president of CING. “We will submit an application to the National Institute for Designations of Origin (INAO) and we are working on extending the specifications. This will help the sector recruit new consumers, especially younger people.
According to a consumer survey commissioned by CING some time ago, “walnuts in shell are most popular with consumers who are over 50 years old, while young people prefer kernels,” in line with the snacking trend, which is seeing its market share multiply. Today, healthy eating is synonymous with convenience. To attract younger consumers, CING is banking on the PDO, “a guarantee of quality."
"Today, 95% of the kernels consumed in France are imported, mainly from Chile, the USA and Eastern Europe. A PDO would enable us to stand out from the crowd, especially as the volume of kernels consumed in France is considerable.” PDO kernels even have significant export potential. “The only downside is the price,” according to Arnaud Rivière. “French prices are not competitive enough.”
Arnaud Rivière, president of CING, at Fruit Attraction
Walnuts in shell: big calibers for 2023
After a very complicated 2022 campaign for Grenoble walnuts due to overproduction (16,500 tons vs. 12,000 tons on average), CING is announcing a return to normal in terms of volumes for the new campaign (if not slightly lower). “The walnuts are large and the quality is good.” The marketing of PDO walnuts has been delayed by around ten days due to the “weather conditions in September”, and should be on the shelves around the 15th/20th of October.
“More than half” of Grenoble walnuts are already exported to Spain, Italy, Germany and Switzerland, but the committee would like to find other outlets, such as the Middle East, Northern Europe and Asia.
For more information:
Arnaud Rivière
Comité Interprofessionnel de la Noix de Grenoble
coordination@noixdegrenoble.com
www.aoc-noixdegrenoble.com