With the Tour de France coming to the UK during its first three stages from 5 to 7 July, there has never been a better time to promote partnerships between our two countries.
Fresh produce is undeniably one area where collaboration has been strong over the years, and where it will undoubtedly persist for years to come.
French Golden Delicious apples are one example of a success story in the UK market. Other gourmet products have become foodies’ favorites over the years, and are now renowned among British consumers: the Ratte potato, the Gariguette strawberry, the Mirabelle plum, the lamb’s lettuce from Nantes, or the Roscoff pink onion. These are all great varieties that require specific soil quality and weather conditions in order to fully acquire their optimum taste.
France benefits from a historically strong agricultural tradition and is the third largest producer of fresh fruit and vegetables in the EU (6.5 million tonnes) and second one for potatoes (seven million tonnes). Globally, a significant share of production is exported, essentially to EU countries for the most perishable products. The United Kingdom is ranked number four overall for imports of fresh French produce (including potatoes).
Throughout the country, there is a wide range of availability thanks to a varied terroir, from early Provence production in the South East, to production in Languedoc-Roussillon and in the South West; Rhone-Alpes then takes over with late summer fruit varieties. The Loire Valley is also one of the main production hubs with both fresh fruit (mainly apples), and vegetables. Brittany is the country’s first source of winter vegetables, and the north (Picardie, Beauce and Champagne) provides most of the potato crop.
The proximity between our two countries also plays a great role in the partnership that has developed, while the common market was created to facilitate trade within Europe. And still today, this “just across the channel” position is key in maintaining our market share.
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