Raw materials: “Very expensive strawberries …”

Dince mid-march, the gariguette has been on the go. His scarlet head winks at the consumer. And the latter has a hard time resisting, especially as the basket of seasonal fruits looks pale. Apples and pears have come down from the tree since fall 2020; citrus fruits have lost their juice; the cherries look gray. As for the apricots, they are still in the pipeline.

The terrible frost in early April drowned hopes for a bountiful stone fruit harvest. Nothing like the strawberries. Protected by the sleeve of the greenhouses, they escaped frostbite. But the cold and the lack of sun put a brake on their growth. “We had a drop in harvest during the first fortnight of April”, testifies Xavier Mas, producer in Lot-et-Garonne and president of the AOPn Fraises de France. Taking into account this sudden drop in speed, the Ministry of Agriculture currently estimates French production at 56,000 tonnes in 2021, down 4% compared to 2020.

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Something to be desired. And the craving for strawberries is priceless. In Paris, the punnet of gariguettes is sold out for nearly 6 euros at the primeur. For a fine size weight of 250 g. Dearest strawberries … “She is currently paid 7 euros per kilo to the producer. It is certain, people take the margin ”, says Mr. Mas. Or how to sweeten themselves with strawberries … But the French, deprived of restaurants until mid-May, agreed to spend more in their food purchases to have fun. To the delight of producers and distributors.

Extension of the range

“We were skeptical at the start of the season because of the health situation”, emphasizes Xavier Mas. The farmers still remembered the episode of the first confinement with a slump in fruit for two weeks and prices in compote. The reaction of signs ready to highlight products with tricolor cockades had however saved the campaign, with an average price paid to the harvester of 6 euros per kilo. In May 2020, the strawberry price even showed an increase of 25% compared to 2019. A valuation favored by less pressure from fierce Spanish competition. In 2020, imports from the Iberian Peninsula fell by almost 20%. The closure of canteens and restaurants, fans of this inexpensive offer, limited the flow.

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