The Quality Charter of Fruit Growers in France

 

 

Since 1999 Perlim has been involved in a progress initiative entitled “The Quality Charter of Fruit Growers in France”, which complies with the principles of Integrated Fruit Production (PFI).


In 2010, 98% of our members were certified as compliant with the PFI Charter.

*What is Integrated Fruit Production?
It is a high quality fruit production method that favours organic production with the aim of protecting the environment and food safety.

 

Specifically PFI is:

-a limited supply of fertilizer expressly for trees

-maintaining orchards in a good healthy condition, using phytosanitary products only when alternative methods of biological control (if they exist) have proven to be efficient.

-assessment of the need for treatment using counters or studies of climatic conditions.

Biological control is currently widely used in the PERLIM orchard for the successful control of red spiders, white worms and codling moths.
 

*Our job is working with nature
A total of 1,500 fruit growers met at the Association Nationale Pommes Poires (The National Apple and Pear Association, (ANPP)), and committed to the initiative of offering consumers quality fruit of unrivalled taste, and products that respect the environment.


The « Vergers Eco-responsables » (Eco-responsible orchard) logo will signal the orchards’ commitment to this Charter. Boards displaying the logo will gradually be installed at each of the members that comply. (Add logo + photo of the orchard display board).
The “open orchard” scheme began in August 2011, in Corrèze and throughout France.
Purpose: To promote the profession of arboriculturist and explain the production methods of “Eco-responsible Orchards” to the general public by inviting them to visit the orchards.

 

 

 

 

In addition to the two quality processes of PFI (Integrated Fruit Production) and GlobalGAP, it is also necessary to take into consideration client specification requirements.

In summary, to date class 1 top of the range apples currently:

 

 

  • are referenced as being produced solely by those producers who respect the principles governing “Integrated Fruit Production” and the Global Gap reference system for all agricultural practices,
  • are referenced as being cultivated solely on those plots of land which respect said principles,
  • are the result of harvests gathered when fruit is at the optimum stage of ripeness,
  • are the receipt of apples by factories and their sorting processes in accordance with their potential for conservation,
  • do not undergo any post-harvest treatment,
  • respect optimal conditions for conservation,
  • selective packaging of apples guarantees the grade, shape and taste objectives and measurable criteria such as sugar content, acidity and firmness (10,000 analyses per annum),
  • are subject to residue analysis,
  • are subject to a pre- and post-production traceability system.