PRODUCER & TERROIR
When Carlos talks about his job, it becomes clear just how many skills a farmer needs to master. As head of production, he runs the farm, draws up growing schedules, decides when harvests take place and manages staff. His orchards include over 600 acres of peach, apricot and cherry trees. He has been looking after them for 20 years and finds new ways to improve production each season.
With a geographic location guaranteeing record levels of sunshine and high-filtering soil, the Costières plateau near Nîmes is a prime location for growing sweet, mouthwatering apricots. Add to that the long-established expertise of the local apricot growers and you obtain a fruit of outstanding quality.
« Flavorcot apricots are my favorite. The challenge lies in picking them at their peak, just before they fall from the tree. »
apricot farmer,
GROWING TECHNIQUES
For Carlos, the crucial stages for obtaining the best possible fruit quality are pruning and thinning, when twigs and branches are cut back and some flowers removed. This helps to keep the tree healthy and encourages the development of fruit rich in flavor and sugar.
It is precise, highly expert work and it takes seven years to train a good pruner. Our partner has a loyal team who have come back year after year since the early days of the orchard. Another advantage of pruning is that, before being chipped, the felled branches can be left on the ground where they naturally shed nourishing organic material onto the soil.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ACTION
Carlos has applied an integrated fruit production process for 20 years now. This eco-friendly agricultural approach is based on natural preventive practices, such as establishing cultivation systems that minimize the proliferation of diseases and insects. Integrated fruit production significantly reduces the use of synthetic pesticides by using natural methods wherever possible.
Carlos therefore keeps his use of plant protection products to a minimum. For him, it is crucial to limit the use of chemicals as far as possible, relying on the bare minimum required to achieve the very best fruit. In addition, all the orchards here are supplied with water from the Canal du Bas-Rhône, which is key to the quality and flavor of the fruit. These initiatives helped Carlos to obtain the ZRP (zero pesticide residue) and HVE (high environmental value) labels when these certifications were first introduced in France.
