Last month, French minister of agriculture and food Stéphane Travert visited kiwifruit farms in the southwest of the country, including that of Scaap Kiwifruits member Laurent Betbeder, in Josse, in the Landes department.
Travert stressed the important role that the fruit has played in the region, calling the sector “the area’s excellence and history”.
Scaap Kiwifruits took the opportunity to show Travert the innovations made by its farmers over several decades.
Since 1982, Scaap growers have worked to create a strong cooperative group with a shared desire: to defend the price of their products and together invest in the necessary industrial tools.
In 1980, the Oscar brand was launched, followed by the creation of a commercial structure in Primland, which now sells Oscar kiwifruit in over 35 countries. This year, sales stood at more than €32m.
Scaap has continued to evolve, introducing Label Rouge for Adour kiwifruit in 1992 and developing its organic production.
Today, Scaap has 240 members for which it provides technical advice, while supporting young farmers setting up in areas growing innovative products like Nergi kiwiberries and Oscar Gold yellow kiwifruit.
“Welcoming the minister into our orchards gave us the chance to show him the importance and the quality of the Landes kiwi sector,” said Scaap president François Lafitte. “In the field he was able to realise the considerable work our farmers do each day to offer high-quality fruit to consumers throughout the world.”
