The Grenoble walnut harvest started last week and should be available on French supermarket shelves in less than ten days. Nathalie Gaillard, coordinator of the International Committee of the Grenoble Walnut (CING), takes stock at the start of this new season, which will be accompanied by the following slogan: "Tu casses, tu craques" ("You break, you crack").
A market that should improve
After two years of crisis for the fruit sector, marked by overproduction in 2021 and 2022 on an already saturated world market that led to a drop in prices, as well as a half-harvest last year, the volumes for 2024 are close to average (set at 12,500 tons). "Producers seem to be fairly confident about volumes, but it is still early to be making forecasts," explains Nathalie Gaillard. This year, sizes are likely to be average, or slightly small. In terms of marketing, "everything looks good, with prices set to rise again and a market that should become more balanced."
French walnuts account for around 49,700 tons, including 13,000 tons of Grenoble walnuts, which are currently harvested by 630 producers covering 6,633 hectares of orchards in 3 departments (Isère, Drôme and Savoie) / © CING
A 4th variety in the Grenoble walnut PDO?
Since 1938, the specifications for the Grenoble walnut PDO have accepted only three local varieties in the orchards, the most famous being the Franquette, which accounts for 90% of the PDO production, followed by the Mayette and Parisienne varieties. But the committee would like to have the specifications revised to include the Fernor variety. "Already planted in the region, Fernor is the result of a cross between Franquette and Lara (an American variety) and is more economically viable than other varieties. This is why CING has submitted an official request to INAO. "A committee of enquiry was appointed in June to examine the possibility of revising the specifications."
© CING
For more information:
Nathalie Gaillard
CING
[email protected]
www.aoc-noixdegrenoble.com