As the days are getting longer, the cherry trees in the Loiret are blooming, the sign of a well-established spring. “No season is the same, but globally, the flowering is a little more ahead of time than usual. But we are not talking of a high precocity. We are expecting cherries for the end of May/beginning of June,” explains Brice Denis, sales manager at Godeau et fils. “So far, the season is promising. Of course, it will depend on the weather in the coming weeks. Growing cherries here is a bit like playing the lottery. Although it is going well at the moment, a lot can still happen before the harvest. We can still get frost in the morning, which could disturb the flowering. It is a very unreliable situation.”
On average, the cherry production is between 200 and 300 tons. “Last year, we had a decent season,” indicates Brice. Although it is difficult to predict if this year’s harvest will be successful or not, the warm temperatures are already an asset and will limit the possible damage from the Suzukii flies. “It was present here last year, just like everywhere else. But this fly does not really like warm temperatures, they scare it away.”
Godeau et fils, a local business
“We are the first marketer for the producers of Loiret and Loire et Cher. We market all local the productions including cherries, Sologne strawberries, apples and pears, but also vegetables such as leeks in the winter, cucumbers in the spring and zucchinis in the summer.” Although the company has a range of clients all over France, it markets its production mainly locally and in the Paris region to major distributors specialized in catering, wholesale and retail.
“In terms of arboriculture, our producers are certified Global Gap. We are working on areas of improvement in order to obtain the eco-responsible orchards (Vergers Ecoresponsables) certification in the future, as well as the HEV (High Environmental Value) label. Arboriculture lends itself well to this certification, meeting the consumer’s expectations.”
Brice Denis
Godeau et fils
613 rue du pressoir tonneau
45160 Olivet
Phone: +33 (0) 2.38.69.01.72
brice.denis@godeauetfils.fr