In Brittany, the Coco de Paimpol season is in full swing. “The season began in mid-July, with the first beans arriving in relatively limited volumes until mid-August, and then increasing at the end of August/beginning of September, which is the heart of the campaign. We are now at the height of the season, with more than 100 tons harvested every day until mid-October, when the volumes will gradually drop,” explains Pierre Gélébart, product manager at Prince de Bretagne.
10% less surface area for higher volumes
The situation is very different from last year. “We estimate that our production area will be 10% smaller than in 2022. Yet, our volumes are higher. Last year, part of the crop burned because of the drought and the heatwave. This year, the combination of rain and sunshine has given us beans of great quality, along with significant volumes.”
The PDO guarantees quality and traditional harvesting
The Coco de Paimpol benefits from a PDO. “Its cultivation is subject to very precise specifications regarding the variety, the production zone, compliance with the cold chain prior to packaging and shipping, and of course the harvesting method, which is 100% manual. The PDO implies internal and external controls throughout the season. It is also a very important economic activity for the region because every day, hundreds of seasonal workers come to the fields to harvest this bean.”
Three sales formats: 8kg, 5kg and 1.5kg bags
In terms of packaging, the cooperative offers three formats. “We make the traditional 8kg bags, the largest format we have, which are appreciated by retailers for their promotional operations. We also have 5kg bags, and finally 1.5kg nets for everyday consumption. In fact, consumers who opt for 5kg and 8kg bags generally want to shell and freeze their beans. The Coco de Paimpol has the great advantage of retaining all its taste qualities after freezing. It really is a vegetable that freezes well. Another significant advantage is that this bean can be cooked without soaking, so it does not necessitate planning in advance, unlike a classic dry bean. 1kg of Coco de Paimpol gives approximately 400-450g of beans.”
Right: 1.5 kg net
Daily auction and tender sales
Prince de Bretagne sells its Coco de Paimpol PDO in two different ways. “The daily auction remains the main sales method, but we also offer tender sales to enable clients to organize actions and guarantee volumes.” Shippers agree on a price and volume on a Wednesday, and if their proposal is accepted, the merchandise is made available from Friday to Thursday of the following week. “This also provides a smoothed price and a guarantee of supply. Thanks to the commitment that comes with bidding, it is always delivered first.”
Brittany bean
Part of the cooperative’s bean production falls outside of the PDO zone. Those pods are sold in 8 kg bags under the name “Haricot de Bretagne”. The quality specifications are identical to those of the PDO.
Prince de Bretagne also offers organic Coco de Paimpol.
For more information:
Pierre Gelebart
Prince de Bretagne
Phone: +33 2 98 69 38 71
Mobile: +33 6 62 92 64 74
[email protected]
www.princedebretagne.com/fr
