In Caumont-sur-Aure (Calvados), Arnaud Lecan has started growing endives. This year, he is preparing his first organic production in his basement.
Arnaud chose to grow endives because he noticed that there was no local producer. “I decided to go for it after a few trials. I also wanted to participate in the dynamism of the region. We are approximately 10 producers supplying the same Biocoop store, so why not get together?”
By 2022, the young producer will produce more than 200,000 organic endives grown in his basement and marketed under the brand “Endives du Bocage”. His production will be distributed to the Biocoop stores of Saint-Lô, Agneaux, Bayeux, Falaise, the agglomeration of Caen, Lisieux, Vire, Bernay and Biau Courtil de Torteval.
“In my basement, I have been planting 40,000 roots for a month. For the first season, from the end of October until April 2022, I should be able to produce 210,000 to 220,000 endives with French roots. If all goes well, it will be 18 tons of endives. My goal is to make endives from France. But in April 2022, I will be forced to buy Dutch roots to cover the junction. The French sector is very small. Only the Dutch can bring me 180,000 roots. Later in the year, I go back to local producers, including one in Brécey (Manche). Next year, I will only use French roots, most likely from the Manche or Calvados.
The producer wants to go even further and acquire another location for next year. “Underground if possible, to use very little heating. Underground, temperatures are between 10 and 12°C so I consume relatively little energy. If someone in the Caumont-sur-Aure area has such a place, between 100 and 150 m², I’ll take it!”
Source: actu.fr
