In 2002, Biogaronne was created from an association of 13 organic producers and a commercial manager. Eighteen years later, the company works with 80 producers from the southwest of France and has a revenue of about 6 million euros [6.7 million USD]. Each year, it continues to grow by 15 to 20% but the commercial manager, Jean-Luc Charbonneau, explains that the market has changed a lot.
“I have been selling organic fruits and vegetables for 29 years now. For several years, we had to search for clients to sell our merchandise. Today, we are searching for producers in order to provide for the growing clientele. In the Southwest, we are really lacking organic productions.”
Didier Deshayes, producer
Crop planning
The demand for organic products keeps on growing. According to Jean-Luc, it is highly important to structure the production in relation to the high demand. “The demand is putting some pressure on the production, but we have to grow progressively. Hundreds of hectares newly converted to organic farming may eventually degrade the price paid to the producers. Before increasing the production, the demand must be stable. Some consumers eat organic only after a food crisis, as happened after the mad cow debacle. This type of consumers returns to conventional products after 5 or 6 months. But for the past 3 to 4 years, it is true that the demand for organic products has been rather regular.”
Jean-Luc finds it outrageous to sell healthy, organic products in plastic containers. “It is a huge added cost that does not fit the organic philosophy at all. That’s why we only sell 3% of our merchandise to large retailers. I am willing to supply them, but only in bulk.” Biogaronne sells to organic wholesalers throughout France and exports to Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. Local sales represent 30% of the company’s revenue.
Jean-Luc insists on the importance of a collective approach. “At Biogaronne, we teamed up to complement our skills. We work like a cooperative. The manager is a producer and we offer technical, commercial and financial support to the young producers. Each year, new producers join us. They often take over the conventional production of their parents and convert it to organic farming.”
Video about the technical support and tomato harvest
Structuring the region
Biogaronne also works with the organic interprofessionals of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. “Every year, we audit all organic fruit and vegetable companies in the Southwest in order to determine how many tons of merchandise are missing. With this data, we can help some producers establish themselves. We also run communication campaigns together.”
Thierry Zanardo, producer
Seasonal products
The Biogaronne producers respect the seasons. “In the summer, we have the ratatouille products and the plums. In the fall, the grapes, zucchinis, fennels, pumpkins and butternut squash make up a large part of our total production. In the winter, the apples, kiwis and the lamb’s lettuce are the important crops, and in the spring, we offer strawberries, carrots, early leek and asparagus.”
March was warm this year and the asparagus arrived 2 weeks early. The French market was not ready yet to absorb the volumes. “Besides, many organic asparagus crops appeared 3 or 4 years ago in all the production areas of France. And all this production is now arriving at the same time.”
Introducing Biogaronne
For more information: 
Biogaronne
Phone: 05 53 98 39 10
Fax: 05 53 98 33 52
biogaronne@wanadoo.fr
www.biogaronne.info