There are 13,500 farms and almost 85,000 jobs in the agricultural and agri-food sector in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais, representing a €12 billion turnover.
The region has a very dense level of consumption with 80 million people in a 300 km radius, as well as a strategic geographical position for commercial exchanges. Most importantly the soil is rich and the weather is good. This results in a large variety of producers, often the best in their fields. The region is, for example, the world’s leader in chicory production and number one production region for potatoes, peas and brussel sprouts.
With 2,800 companies, the Nord-Pas-de-Calais has good agri-food figures. From canned vegetables to processed potatoes, the region is home to famous brands such as Bonduelle, Cémoi, Mamie Nova and Mac Cain.
A quarter of the region’s organic production comes from Avesnois; mainly fruit and vegetables. The region is slowly catching up with the rest of the country as 2% of their farms are now organic, compared to the national level, 5%. Demand for organic produce is high and the State annually invests €1million to finance the conversion from traditional farming to organic. Direct sales from the producer to the consumer, or from small local stores are also increasingly popular.