The onion is one of the top 5 most consumed vegetables in France. A cooperative of 55 producers, the BCO (Beauce Champagne Oignon), has just invested in an ultra modern factory.
BCO is one of the leaders in onion production and packaging in Loiret. 16,000 tons of onions are expected to transit each year on the new BCO packaging line, a €10 million investment that is essential for producers.
With this high-tech equipment, the BCO cooperative hopes to halve returns - estimated at €300,000 a year. In particular due to an optical sorter which makes it possible to "detect the external and internal defects in the onions, and to optimize the traceability”, much in demand by the consumers. Another innovation: all of the 10 production lines are connected.
All 25 employees of the former BCO followed the move to the new premises of Sermaises. All of which points to a future with onions for the cooperative's 55 producers.