In a press release on the 22nd July, the commercial agricultural relations mediator “recommends large retail companies and negotiators that supply them to promote French garlic production as of August”. This recommendation comes when the 2014 harvest is announced to be of good quality with moderate volumes.
French garlic producers are faced with difficulties in obtaining contracts with large retailers and therefore difficulties turning over their supply. “French garlic used to be commercialised from the start of August until January, but this has strongly been reduced over the last few years, it is notable that French garlic has a small presence in shops in August and the end of the year, which can explain some of the difficulties faced by the French producers.’’
French companies are said to have favoured the recommendation, and have promised to promote the ‘new’ French garlic. The relations mediator has recommended Aniail to create an inter-professional section to improve the organisation of the sector, notably concerning financing of advertising aimed to encourage garlic consumption.