During its press conference at SIVAL, the organization of kiwi producers of France addressed its desire to increase production and establish common specifications. A first assessment of the 2022 campaign was made and the actions for 2023 were also discussed.
Despite an erosion of producers and strong European competition (300,000 tons for Italy, 320,000 tons for Greece, +40,000 tons for Portugal and Spain), the French kiwi is a fruit with a “promising future” that benefits from a “dynamic and buoyant” market because kiwis are popular with consumers and available in a diverse range of colors and sizes: green, yellow, red and mini-kiwifruit. The kiwi sector continues to reinvent itself, as evidenced by the latest varietal innovation presented at SIVAL, the Haegeum kiwi, and by the producers’ objectives for the coming year.
Common specifications for production
The organization of kiwi producers of France wants to develop a set of specifications for production in order to highlight the efforts of the producers in terms of agroecology and quality, which have become “a common base for French farmers in general.”
Recovery plan
Discussions with the French ministry and FranceAgriMer are also underway to include the support of French fruit growers in an arboricultural recovery plan on a desired aid of 50 to 70% of the project. “For example, a project of 5 hectares of orchard represents 350,000 euros, the start of production in 4/5 years requires financial support and a commitment of at least 20/30 years from producers.”
A busy 2022 season for the kiwi producers of France who continue to plant new orchards, with a “need for more than 1,000 hectares”. There is also a great novelty this year: the organization is applying for official recognition from March 2023.
For more information:
François Lafitte
AOP Kiwi de France
francois.jean.lafitte@orange.fr