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Reading time: 2min – Video: 7min
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7 minutes
In the “Idea for France” section, producers of jam, in the Basque Country, found the idea of obtaining from the gardens of individuals who are exceeded by the quantity of fruit pushing at home. In this sense, a company proposes to pick part of the harvest, while maintaining their trees.
This text corresponds to part of the transcription of the report above. Click on the video to watch it in full.
Give us your fruits, we will cut your trees. A win-win barter that makes people happy in the Basque Country. It was Jeff who had the idea. In Biarritz (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), in the midst of the figs, it is expected at Michèle, head to the garden. At 86, she may be greedy, there are always too many in trees. “”You can’t eat everything. I am happy that the fruits are used for something and are not lost“She says. It is the second year that she calls on Jeff.
It is thanks to individuals like her that he turns his small business andxetik. He comes to pick the last figs before the rain. Michèle’s garden is a gold mine. After the figs, there will be the citrus fruits.
Summer and winter, Jeff walks the gardens looking for his raw material. Very close to here, Saint-Pée-sur-NivelleHe spotted this apple tree on the right at Didier, a resident. Five tonnes of fruit recovered last year from individuals. Here, they are Anixa, a local variety that he loves.
It’s a barter. To the owner who plays the game, he offers part of his production. “”We do not pick them up, as much as it serves Jeff“, Ensures the inhabitant. And in addition, he undertakes to return in winter to maintain their trees.
In two years, the old family farm has turned into a confectionery. With figs, Karine, her partner, will prepare fruit pasta. In their manufacture, nothing but natural. Every day is the picking that dictates the recipe. They had a great idea: to value and transform the tons of fruit that is not used and everyone is there. “”You could say that we do not pay the fruits. But, going to harvest them in different gardens is even more expensive. We harvest ourselves, we maintain the trees“Said Karine.
And they test new recipes. Jeff wants to taste a pear balsamic vinegar which he is very proud of. A concept and taste. Their products are tearing out in the shops of the region. In Bidarray (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), a restaurateur even put them on his menu. At Romain, the head of the Iparla hostel, the balsamic apples accompanies the foie gras.
