The Sanguines® harvest began last week in La Crau and the potential and quality are there. Despite a few windy episodes in spring and a violent hailstorm in the Drôme which seriously damaged some orchards, the harvest looks good, both in terms of quantity and quality. For this 2019 season, the global potential of Sanguines® is 2,000 tonnes: 1,500 tonnes of Nectavigne® and 500 tonnes of Pêchevigne®.
Traditional peaches and nectarines that have won over today's consumers
Under the umbrella of Sanguines®, a true French speciality, there are two segmentations. Nectavigne® nectarines and Pêchevigne® peaches. The range with its brightly graded reds, both traditional and modern, has distinguished itself from the sweet flavours found in classic peach/nectarine products. "Sanguines have a unique taste. They are flavourful fruits, quite typical and recognizable, with a slight bitterness and a hint of acidity, while the current trend in traditional peaches is to move towards sweeter and more standard flavours. Blood has a more complex taste that allows you to stand out and offer something different. Because of their origin, these products remain quite rustic," explains Camille Herouard of Star Fruits Diffusion.
The PêcheVigne® peach has a characteristic red flesh that is juicy, acidic, very sweet and, above all, very aromatic. It is currently accompanied by consumption advice "for preparation", unlike the modern and more practical Nectavigne® nectarine, which is preferred to be consumed "naturally".
A growing orchard
The Orchard of Blood® continues to grow. At present, the Sanguines® nectarine orchard has about a hundred hectares around 50 producers. As for the more modest Sanguines® peach orchard, it covers about forty hectares and has 30 producers.
With a dozen varieties in the Nectavigne® segment, the offer currently extends from early July to mid-September. The Pêchevigne® segment, which is slightly later, generally starts in mid-July. Within 2-3 years, the yield of young orchards of new varieties should make it possible to advance the commercial calendar by 3 weeks.
Producers in the Rhone Valley are strongly involved in reviving the planting of these local products on which PêcheVigne® and NectaVigne® have always found their best expression. With this dynamic, which will soon extend beyond its borders, Les Sanguines® is preparing for years of successful marketing and commercial development as well as technical and qualitative development. There is no shortage of projects: consumer studies, selection of new varieties with original characteristics, quality control in orchards and post-harvest.
For more information:
Camille Herouard
Star Fruits Diffusion
145, Avenue de Fontvert
84130 Le Pontet - France
Tel: +33 (0)4.90.16.46.13
Fax: +33 (0)4.90.16.46.19
Cell: +33(0)7.87.97.65.35
www.star-fruits.com https://www.facebook.com/LesSanguinespechevigneetnectavigne/