Fruit cooperative group presents future plans in the Eiffel Tower

On Wednesday the French fruit cooperative group Blue Whale presented their programme “Welcome to tomorrow’s orchards” during an event which took place in the heart of Paris, at the Salon Gustave Eiffel in the Eiffel Tower. Among the invitees were partners, growers and traders. Both Christophe Belloc, Chairman of the Blue Whale group and Alain Vialaret, the Managing Director, updated their audience on company developments. 

Blue Whale represents around 300 fruit growers and 30% of the French apple production. It is the leading apple exporter in the country. Furthermore the company grows pears, plums, kiwis and grapes. 

Alain emphasised that the company’s future starts in the orchards. Recently Blue Whale introduced several new apple varieties such as the Blue Reine and the REGAL YOU. Last season the company also launched the first 100% made in France harvest of the Rockit, also known as “the smallest apple in the world”. Alain drew attention to the fact that the entire harvest is of a small size. Another new variety that will be introduced by Blue Whale is the KISSABEL red flesh apple. 25 hectares have been planted in the Loire Valley and the first harvest is foreseen for 2019. 

For pears, Blue Whale is going to expand its range with the early pear variety QTEE and with the FRED variety, a late pear arriving at the end of September that’s ready to eat from the tree. Both varieties have a red blush. The company says to introduce these new varieties “to answer consumers demand and to adapt to the worldwide competition”.

If producers affiliated to Blue Whale wish to switch to organic cultivation, Blue Whale supports them. 50 apple and kiwi growers have already used this opportunity. In 2017 the association “Les Fruiticulteurs Bio de nos campagnes” was created. Members sell their products under the trade mark “Elément Terre Bio”. Blue Whale has high ambitions for their organic production: this year their organic growers represent a total of 70 hectares. By 2023, Blue Whale wants this to be 317 hectares. 

Another flagship label for Blue Whale is the “Residue Free” label which was created in cooperation with six other big companies. Alain: “The specifications that producers have to respect are very strict.” This label should guarantee residue free products, which means less than 0.01 milligram of pesticides per kilogram. In 2018 Blue Whale plans a residue free production of 1.000 tons of Ariane, 1.000 tons of Gala and 1.000 tons of kiwis.