Apricot growers in France are struggling to make a profit, according to Serge Mouneyrac of Mouneyrac Frères, while cherry production requires substantial investments to protect the crop
Originally specialists in apples and pears, Mouneyrac Frères, a family business based in southwestern France, expanded its range to include summer fruits such as apricots, nectarines and cherries, focused on the premium end of markets like the UK.
“We have very good partners in the UK, but we don’t supply the supermarkets,” says president Serge Mouneyrac. “We supply importers that provide for caterers, restaurants and luxury hotels. This suits us, since what they are looking for is the best quality.”
However, Mouneyrac remains clear-eyed about both the opportunities and mounting challenges facing the sector.
According to Mouneyrac, it is becoming harder and harder to grow stonefruit in France, in part due to environmental standards and restrictions, economic costs and climate constraints.
“Cherry cultivation has evolved into a highly specialised field requiring substantial capital investment,” he says. Protection against rain, frost and pests like fruit fly – all of this costs a lot of money. It’s really, really specialised now.”
Last year proved to be a positive season for French producers of apricots, peaches, nectarines and plums, both in terms of volumes and prices, partly due to the warm, sunny conditions. However, the long-term outlook remains challenging.
“The sun and heat are good for the taste of the fruit and the sugars,” says Mouneyrac. “When it is too hot and there is not enough water, the development of the fruit can suffer, but we were OK last year. Prices have been good. Apricots are doing okay, but profitability remains uncertain. If you look at the average over the last few years, economic results for apricots have not been so good compared with peaches and nectarines.”
When it comes to more distant markets like Asia, the company’s focus on quality remains firm. “We’re a small family business and we’re focused on the premium segment through our Mouneyrac brand,” the company’s president says. “So we’re not looking for big customers in Asia. We’re looking for small clients and mostly looking to send by air to guarantee the best quality. In Asia, French stonefruit currently has access to Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, but hopefully in the future, France will be able to open up new markets in the region.”
