Seven major French fruit operators joined together in Demain La Terre (Tomorrow the Earth) to demonstrate their commitment to better agricultural practices and responsibility towards the environment.

The group, launched last week, proves that sustainability as a concept is gaining ground in the French fresh produce industry.

Champey's Pierre Roux is president of the new association. "Applying the so-called developed world's economic model to the marketplace in developing countries spells disaster for our planet and mankind," said Roux. "That is why the seven companies behind Demain La Terre are making this commitment to sustainable development in their own fields."

The seven are all are major fruit and vegetable producer -exporters well known to the UK trade. Castang accounts for 26, 000 tonnes of apples and 1,500 of pears; Champey 7, 000t of peaches, 5,000t of apples and 1,500t of apricots; Les Fruits Rouges de l'Aisne produces soft fruit; Lemaitre 5,000t of chicory; Pot au Pin 50,000t of carrots, 6 000 tons of leeks; Sikig 9,000t of kiwifruit and Vergers La Blottière 14,000t of apples.

Each company has made either one or two resolutions to be implemented in 2004 which range from enhancing working conditions, waste recycling and energy saving in the production process to projects concerned with by-products , returns to growers, bio-diversity and the environment.

"We are committed to continuity," said Roux. "This year marks our creation and the implementation of our first resolutions. And 2005and 2006 will be dedicated to ground work with our partners upstream in the supply chain and our clients. "

Demain La Terre is already engaged in employee training and awareness, and collaboration with local community groups through consultancy Triesse and the French standards organisation, Afnor.

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