Relaunched in 2016 by the French-Swiss SME Reitzel, the French pickle industry continues its momentum. With a harvest set at 784 tons in 2022, the company founded in 1909 in Aigle has set a new record. “Combining organic and conventional crops, more than 1.87 million jars, boxes and bags have been produced,” he explains in a press release.
“Despite an exceptional weather situation, we can talk about a good summer for the French gherkin, without talking about an exceptional season. The regular insolation and the low rainfall index have greatly limited the appearance of diseases in the plants, however, the important changes in temperature have created stressful conditions for the plans, affecting long-term yields, comments Léopoldine Mathieu, manager of Reitzel supply chain and sustainable development.
26 producers
If almost all the pickles sold in supermarkets still come from India and Eastern Europe, the French pickle is trying to gain a foothold in the stalls. In 2016, the tricolor sector was made up of only two producers, for a cultivated area of 3 hectares. That year, 54,000 tons were harvested, for 112,000 jars produced. Since then, the sector has grown stronger with 24 more growers today and 46.7 hectares cultivated in Le Loir-et-Cher, Sarthe, Indre-et-Loire and Maine-et-Loire.
“To sustain a sector, between 10 and 15 years are needed. We embarked on the adventure of relocation in 2016, 7 years ago, and today we have a solid sector built on enthusiastic farmers”, comments Sana Hammami, General Manager of Reitzel France.
The group now markets its French gherkins under four brands: Hugo and Jardin d’Orante for supermarkets, Hugo Reitzel for caterers and Bravo Hugo! for specialized organic networks.
Source: BFM TV
