It all began fifteen years ago when three passionate growers became involved in the production of this very special apple, the Reine des Reinettes. "At the time, SICA Gerfruit, Cofruid'Oc, and Les Vergers de la Blottière all produced Reine des Reinettes apples. But the variety is demanding and very expensive to produce, so it was experiencing difficulties and would gradually disappear if we did not restore its aura and promote its qualities," explains Benoît Carreau-David, producer and sales director of SICA Gerfruit.
© Reine des Reinettes Gourmande
A special apple that needs to be pampered
The three growers then decided to take steps to promote this typical, highly tasty apple. "We created the Reine des Reinettes Gourmande by redefining demanding specifications and presenting it as it really is: a genuine French tradition, sometimes grown for three generations of growers, and an integral part of our heritage. A French apple, reserved for our domestic market and eagerly awaited each year by consumers who appreciate its unique taste. It is a special apple that really needs to be pampered. It is picked 5, 6, 7, or even 8 times in order to reveal all its organoleptic qualities. The Reine des Reinettes Gourmande is a seasonal product, an ephemeral pleasure that can be enjoyed over a short period of just a few weeks since it cannot be preserved. The production can reach 2000 tons of apples per year. It is a traditional fruit, produced by passionate growers with specific know-how."
The Reine des Reinettes Gourmande requires a lot more work and manpower than a variety that can be harvested in 1 or 2 times. "With a very long flowering period, the Reine des Reinettes Gourmande ripens in a very sequential way. Every week, we go through one hectare of orchards to remove 3 or 4 tons of apples, picked when ripe. It is a very special kind of apple, which is tart, with aromas of wedges and honey, and a very distinctive kick."
© Reine des Reinettes Gourmande
A message well received by buyers
A strong identity and a message that buyers have been receptive to, helping to safeguard this very special apple. "Our message has been very well received, and I would like to pay tribute to our distributors who have welcomed our approach with great enthusiasm. The Reine des Reinettes is an expensive variety to produce, and a low-cost Reine des Reinettes would be pointless. Thanks to this approach, the variety has been able to survive. Although the surface area of orchards was halved between 2000 and 2010, SICA Gerfruit has increased its surface area by approximately 20% since the Reine des Reinettes Gourmande initiative was launched. We have now managed not only to stem the decline but also to renew orchards that were aging. We are also very proud to produce this variety. Economically speaking, it is very interesting because it is a highly valued apple, but it is also intellectually very pleasing. On the other hand, we have to be careful not to produce too much because we would need more staff. It is important to have a controlled proportion of this variety, however special and interesting it may be."
A good season ahead for the Loire Valley
This fifteenth season of Reine des Reinettes Gourmande looks promising for SICA Gerfruit. "Clearly, some production areas have been affected by poor weather conditions. In the Loire Valley, we have been lucky, and this year's harvest is very good, thanks to favorable flowering and spring conditions. Harvesting began ten days ago, and marketing began last week. The quality is there for all to enjoy, and we can look forward to a very good harvest this year."
To support consumption, a competition is organized every year, this time from August 25th to September 26th.
For more information:
Benoit Carreau-David
SICA Gerfruit
La Portière
72500 Chenu
Phone: +33 (0)2 43 38 11 60
