Older producers are starting to retire and garlic has started to sell for more, so a new generation of farmers are turning to garlic production.
David Marconato, 35 years old, has been working on a farm with his father in Solomiac for 5 months now. “I waited for my Uncle to retire as on a small farm like ours we would not have had enough income,” he explains. He says that he decided to continue garlic production out of choice and necessity. Christiane Pieters, Vice President of the Chamber of Agriculture in the Gers says this is one of the main reasons young people are turning to garlic production.
Cereal prices are also decreasing, so thanks to local garlic being able to rely on Protected Origin labels, the prices are more appealing. Examples include the Lomagne white garlic which has a Protected Geographic Indication, pink Lautrec garlic has a “Label Rouge” and purple Cadours garlic has a Controlled Designation of Origin (as of this year). “We lost 20% of production in France in 10 years, it is very good news for the sector if we can find producers and can fulfil demand from large retailers,” explains Pieters.
This new generation of garlic producers brings new ideas with them. Fabrice Bianchini, who joined his family’s farm in Mauvezin in January says, “We do high quality work, and I want to promote this work.” He says that he is thinking about opening the farm to the public, to show them how they work. David Marconato agrees with the idea, “Last year, tourists came to see us and buy garlic from the farm. Why refuse them? And it adds value to the product.”