Fleuron d'Anjou wins gold for Melkior organically certified shallot seedlings

The VEGEPOLYS competitiveness cluster, the organisers of the SIVAL trade show, and fresh-produce magazine Réussir Fruits et Légumes of France have launched a major Europe-wide competition with the goal of encouraging varietal innovation in fresh produce. Open to all breeders of fruit and vegetables in Europe, the 2012 competition has rewarded Fleuron d'Anjou with the Gold Prize for its Melkior organically certified shallot seedlings.

VEGEPOLYS is the cluster of technological excellence in the plants sector that is based in Angers, in Western France. Its role is to promote innovation among businesses, research centres and training facilities in the plant market both in France and internationally, especially in terms of varietal innovation.

The Melkior shallot will be displayed on the VEGEPOLYS stand at the Fruit Logistica trade show, the world's leading trade fair for fresh fruit and vegetables, which will take place in Berlin from 8 to 10 February 2012.

Melkior shallots represent a genuine innovation in the vegetable species. The variety, which has been certified as organic, was created by Agri-Obtentions, a producer of innovative plant varieties. Melkior is the first shallot to be resistant to mildew, which is the main fungal parasite to attack leafy plants. This resistance to mildew is of importance both to amateur gardeners, who are wary of using pesticides due to their harmful effects, and to professional farmers, such as organic-shallot producers, who frequently experience severe problems as a result of mildew.

Seeking to satisfy gardening enthusiasts, Fleuron d'Anjou intends to multiply the initial Melkior seedlings, while remaining within the specifications of the AB guarantee (i.e. the French organic-farming certification), therefore moving the shallot further along the path to sustainable development.

The Melkior variety's bulb is of the round, mid-length variety. It is firm, with a fairly dark colour and a shiny appearance. In terms of cultivation, it is planted in late February or early March, for an early July harvest. Its vegetation is quite powerful, which is conducive to good ripeness. Finally, the Melkior variety has a high dry-matter content and will keep until April or May, while remaining free of any preservatives, since it is organic.

The product is available to users as of 2012 in 500g string bags, bearing a tag indicating that is was grown organically and carrying the blue label from the Groupement National Interprofessionnel des Semences et Plants (or GNIS, the French Inter-professional Seed and Plant Association), which guarantees its varietal purity and its hygiene quality.

About Fleuron d'Anjou

Fleuron d'Anjou is one of the leading French companies specialising in the production and commercialisation of fruit and vegetables, along with flowers and plants.

The company will attend the Fruit Logistica trade show in Berlin (Germany) between 8 and 10 February 2012 (Hall 22, Booth C-13).