This is the stated objective of the AOP Cerises de France, which opened its value chain day to non-members as well, with the aim of boosting exchanges among professionals and strengthening the collective.
More than 80 producers, commercial operators, technicians and researchers gathered in early March in Bessenay (69), around the cherry value chain.
This day, organized by the AOP Cerises de France, made it possible to address the main technical challenges of production, while also fostering cohesion among participants around the organization’s missions.
Founded in 2009, the AOP presents itself as a central player in the economic structuring of the fresh cherry sector in France.
Today it brings together around fifteen members, including producer organizations (OP), SICA and exporters such as Sicoly, Val de Nesque, Paysans du Ventoux and Califruits, distributed across four major production basins (PACA, AURA, Occitania and Centre-Val de Loire).
“After obtaining national recognition in 2011, the AOP is the official interlocutor with the Ministry,” recalled president Jean-Christophe Neyron, emphasizing the importance of as broad a representation of the sector as possible.
As the sector’s spokesperson, the AOP carries out cross-cutting actions, from production to marketing: better knowledge of volumes by basin to regulate supply, participation in standardization work with CTIFL, and obtaining phytosanitary derogations in collaboration with FNPF and other AOPs.
As summarized by the director Alexandra Lacoste, “it is a decision-support tool to produce under satisfactory conditions.”
Although the number of members has doubled since its creation, the AOP states that it still represents only 35% of French volumes. A growth margin that the leaders intend to fill quickly.
“The future of French cherries will not be played individually, but collectively,” emphasized Mathilde Chambe, director of Chambe Agrifruits. “And key operators are still missing around the table.” This situation highlights the vulnerability of a still fragmented sector.
The current AOP members therefore stressed the need to strengthen sector unity as a strategic lever on several levels. First, it allows professionals to increase their weight vis-à-vis institutions, facilitating the obtaining of necessary phytosanitary derogations in a context of reduced available solutions.
Moreover, it contributes to better market organization, anticipating volumes and coordinating releases to limit sudden price drops during peak production periods.
Finally, this collective structuring aims to establish a more balanced dialogue with large-scale retail, speaking with one voice and defending a fairer valorization of French cherries.
“The presence of retail chains during this day (such as Grand Frais, Intermarché or Casino) should be interpreted as a positive signal,” underlined Grégoire Limone, commercial director of Comptoir Rhodanien.
An appeal is therefore launched to the French cherry sector to strengthen the collective, with the ambition of exceeding half of national volumes, following the model of other structured sectors such as peaches and apricots. Beyond economic and commercial structuring, the challenge is also technical: ensuring reliable solutions for the future of production.
Perrine Fortin-Dorie
Source: Végétable
Image source: AOP Cerises de France
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