There is a lack of organic goods in France. "Every day I have to turn down sales because I do not have enough products,” says Patrick Ktorza from Bio Garonne. "It's a shame, because customers and demand are there."
The situation described by Patrick is repeated throughout France. "Only 7% of French agriculture is organic. There is a huge need. We accompany producers to convert, and we promise to sell all their products."
Bio Garonne brings together about 80 organic producers in Lot-et-Garonne. The company ships products all over France, and exports to Belgium and Germany.
Fresh herbs
The popularity of organic products in France exploded 5 to 6 years ago. "As a result, more producers are becoming organic, and more products are available. We are still short on fresh herbs such as parsley and coriander, lettuce, spinach and rocket."
Grapes: limited amount
For Bio Garonne, the most important products in quantities are zucchini, butternut squashes and grapes. "We have fewer grapes than usual, because we had bad weather in the spring; after that, it was very dry. Restricted amounts cause high prices."
Low price for zucchini
The situation is completely different for zucchini. "Thanks to the heat, we have large quantities. Prices are low, around 90 cents per kilo. I think temperatures and quantities will go down and prices will go up in two weeks."
Supermarkets should ban plastic
Among the customers of Bio Garonne are wholesalers, restaurants and specialized stores. The company does not sell to supermarkets. "In France, the problem with supermarkets is that they differentiate between organic and conventional by packing all organic products in plastic. We don’t do this because it’s not at all adapted to organic values."
"There are many consumers who don’t buy organic products from supermarkets because of plastic, and I hope that supermarkets will find another system to differentiate between organic and conventional. Two avocados, a mango, or four tomatoes wrapped in plastic; it really is very ugly."
Visit Bio Garonne at the NatExpo from 23-24 September in Lyon. Stand number: F111.
For more information: 
Bio Garonne
Romas - RD 813
47130 Port-Sainte-Marie
France
+33 (0)5 53 98 39 10
patrick.ktorza@gmail.com
www.biogaronne.info