In the French département of Finistère, in the west of Brittany, the vegetable producers of cooperative Sica Saint-Pol-de-Léon suffered one of the toughest years on record in 2009, with turnover falling from €240m to €216m.
Weather conditions may have been favourable, but the economic crisis has caused consumption to fall, export markets to be disturbed and relations with retailers to become strained.
The cooperative's reaction has been to test the performance of a brand-new product for the region: the Charentais melon. According to Ouest-France, the fruit will be tested in northern Finistère.
Secretary-general Jean-François Jacob said that, were the trial successful, it could lead to the production of large volumes in the near-future.
The cooperative is also working on rationalising the organisation logistically. Out of its 19 mixed-vegetable packhouses, eight are set to be closed in the next three years, to be replaced by two ultra-modern packhouses.
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