For apple production (1.68 million tons in 2007), orchards lost 80,000 hectares between 2002 and 2007, following many clearing operations (including 44,530 hectares in 2007).
Golden remains the leading varietal type cultivated in France (30% of orchards), followed by the Gala group (16% of total surface) and Granny (8% of orchards).
As for pear production (198,000 tons in 2007), all the main varieties have dropped. Williams and Guyot represent more than half the pear orchards. Conference and Comice remain steady. Louise Bonne, Beurré Hardy and Alexandrine have fallen significantly. The Passe – Crassane’s decline continues inexorably. Angélys, a new winter variety designed to replace it, represents 200 hectares (2007). Orchards are continuing to age, with over half composed of 25 year old trees.

Apricot orchards fell by a thousand hectares (7% of surface) but its replacement is continuing at a steady pace (20% of the orchards are under five years old). It is continuing to diversify with the regular spread of new varieties.
Cherry orchards in turn have lost over 2,000 hectares since 2002 (17% of surface). The varietal composition is slowly changing, with the share of the two main varieties (Burlat and Napoleon) continuing to drop off (under 30% of areas). On the other hand, of the more recent varieties some (Summit, Duroni) remain steady, some are growing (Rainier, Sweet Heart), or even tripling (Regina) their surface.
Walnuts have experienced the strongest growth (+7% in five years). With over 20,000 hectares, walnut is the only crop to have increased its surface, taking second place after apples, but ahead of plum and peach orchards. The Franquette variety is still the benchmark (78% of planted areas).

By comparison with 1996 figures, the number of vegetable producers has decreased by 40% and cultivated surfaces by 6%. For the last ten years, we note a significant fall in low tunnel surfaces (-33%) whereas high tunnel surfaces are on the rise (+13%). Among these, the off-ground surfaces have expanded by 80% and now cover almost 1,500 hectares gross (or one in five hectares of greenhouses and tunnels). A rising percentage of vegetable surfaces are to be found on increasingly large farms and just over 3,200 producers own over 50% of the surfaces, representing 40 hectares per farm. The entities produce essentially for the food processing industry (string beans, petit pois, sweet corn) but also species (carrot, onion, melon) for the fresh produce market. Then there are the market garden farms grown on specialized plots with successive rotations (20% of farms and 12% of gross surfaces).

Potato production amounted to 4,730,000 tons in 2007 (+7% compared to 2006) and exports increased by 12.5%.
For tomatoes (615,300 tons in 2007 including 41% vine tomato), greenhouse production represents 93% of total output. While the production remains quite stable, the production surfaces have decreased slightly (-6%) but this was largely offset by off-ground cultivation.
French endives underwent a 3% decrease in surface (12,500 hectares). The production of roots remained stable (377,000 tons) and chicory production (223,000 tons) rose slightly (+1%).
Cauliflower also had a 5% decrease in surface (22,700 hectares), and in production (-3%) to 356,700 tons, despite steady demand.

Exports of fresh fruit and vegetables amounted to €1.64 billion for 2007, with a clear increase on 2006 figures (€1.63 billion). Despite a minor decrease in vegetable volumes (676,000 tons, -0.63%), the turnover came to €654 million.
Sales of cauliflower remain consistent (127,000 tons) and exports of tomatoes continue to grow (111,500 tons, +30%). Lettuce dropped slightly in terms of volumes (-400 tons). For fresh fruit, the situation is deteriorating with export volumes down by 11%. Apples rose in value (+6%) but fell in volume (-12% to 640,000 tons). Table grapes experienced a slight fall in export volumes (-500 tons).

A segmented market
Large and medium-sized supermarkets account for 59% of fruit and vegetable sales. Traditional markets in turn provide for 17%, hard-discount 12%, greengrocers 8.6%, other channels (direct sale) 3.4%.
The retail trade specialized in fruit and vegetables follows strategic choices to form six specialist categories (hypermarket, specialist discounter, all-round specialist, qualitative specialist, traditional specialist, contracted self-service specialists) depending on the selling method, size of range, services proposed or even the catchment area.
In fruit and vegetable distribution, we find several types of short or long circuits, such as:

French household expenditure on fresh fruit and vegetables (excluding potatoes) represents 10.9% of the household’s total food expenditure (source Insee). French consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables (except potatoes) is estimated at roughly 151 kg (2007) per annum, per household. Fruit is responsible for driving the overall market rise. The quantities purchased per buy continue to rise, as does the purchasing frequency. In 2007, the quantities purchased by householders far exceeded the average recorded since 2002. As regards vegetables, consumption recovered in 2007 yet failed to reach the average level of five years ago.

For the majority of consumers, the quality of fruit and vegetables is tied to their freshness (the first choice criterion before price) and respect of seasons. Fruit and vegetables of French origin have an excellent image even though they are sometimes considered more expensive, by reason of higher quality and stricter regulations (France practises the highest number of controls). The 4th range fruit and vegetables (ready to eat) are experiencing an average annual growth of 9% and about 70% of households consume them. Lettuce represents 85% of the segment, representing 1 in 5 lettuces consumed in France.

Innovation takes many forms, such as varietal diversity (tastes, shapes, colours) and technological diversity (packaging, appliances). Innovation is necessary to develop the competitiveness of the companies in the sector and to promote consumption of fruit and vegetables (fresh and converted). As consumers increasingly reject the industrial model, innovation helps highlight values tied to the environment, sustainable development, not to mention the practical aspect.
For instance, tomatoes have benefited from varietal innovations allowing its segmentation, generating higher consumption. In addition, varieties that have disappeared or are losing ground have been put back on the market in another form (baby vegetables) with an increase in consumption as a result.

Pierrot Da Costa
(Fruit retailer - Paris)

"The fruit and vegetables market is not very dynamic and clients are harder to find, due to the drop in purchasing power. This represents a 10% decrease in volume and money. Furthermore, off-season fruit and vegetables are selling less. The France origin is more in demand, along with organic produce. In our shops in Montmartre and at Porte d'Auteuil, we sell fruit and vegetables from reasoned agriculture. At the same time, consumers prefer ready-made produce (4th range) because they don't have the time to prepare meals, such as lettuces, prepared pineapple, fruit salads, etc. We also sell our homemade soups, which do well for that reason. While fruit is slightly less expensive than last year, we notice a purchasing shift to less upmarket produce, even among the more well-off populations. However, this doesn't mean that clients want lower quality produce. We have to learn to sell the right quality at the right price. We observe an attempt to innovate with the arrival of new varieties in many fruit and vegetables."

Christian Hutin
(Head of the Products and Markets department of CTIFL)

"There has been a fall in fruit and vegetable production for several years now, particularly on major products (apple), due to the decrease in surfaces, the competition between production companies and their difficult positioning with regard to the competition. In this respect, the production from the South of France suffers from competition from Morocco, Spain and the emergence of Egypt (early fruit and vegetable production). On the other hand, French apricots remain the European leader because the varietal renovation was properly managed. Similarly, walnuts are the only orchards developing in France. While there is some question as to how low our overall production potential may fall, we can see that some sectors are resisting well or even growing, like strawberries or tomatoes, thanks to the efforts made in terms of better segmentation, varietal improvements, communication, production yields and reorganizing companies. For thirty years, distribution has witnessed the growth of mass distribution, which has adapted to changes in consumer lifestyle, to the detriment of wholesale and retail channels. Today, this growth is more marginal. Local retailers are back in fashion, but need to change the way they function through commercial innovations. Generally speaking, consumption is stable at best according to our figures. It remains steady in terms of value but has decreased slightly in volume. In the face of competition from converted produce, fresh produce has to play the quality and segmentation card for all it's worth. The fruit and vegetables sector still needs to make efforts in terms of technological and varietal innovation to keep up with the competition and satisfy consumers, with the best value-for-money ratios. As regards the Fruit Logistica trade show, it has become the benchmark in the fruit and vegetables sector and CTIFL will be there."

Didier Ioli
(Managing Director of Paris Select - fruit and vegetables sector at Rungis))

“We are seeing a decrease in cultivated surfaces because of a failure to replace varieties and fewer producers because there is a lack of successors and applicants with a vocation for these tough professions. This will make producers group together, which will ultimately result in rather standardized produce, which will in turn cause clients to lose interest in these products without taste or originality.
Consumption mirrors the mistakes made. Production is still too dependent on mass distribution, with increasingly difficult markets. We are now marketing varieties selected for their yield, with no gustatory quality, fruit picked too early and products with the lowest price. Consumption is falling because of this bad quality. It has dropped by about 6% in the last five years.
There is a huge job to be done at the production level to obtain fruit and vegetables that taste better. Fruit and vegetables are fresh, natural, fragile products that need to be preserved to retain their best features. This is true for wholesalers, retailers and even consumers. Yet quality has a real value that has been ignored for a long time. Throughout its lifecycle, the fruit or vegetable generates actual or related costs (production, packaging, sizing, traceability, warehousing, distribution, etc.) and its price has to be set accordingly. As for varietal innovation, it helps develop the market because diversity creates demand. In this respect, the wholesale market is essential and remains the only one to make the link between upstream and downstream because it controls the selection, seasonal nature, origin, distribution and price of products. The Fruit Logistica trade show has become essential to the fruit and vegetable sector.”

Bernard Piton
(President of UNCGFL)

“Rising pressures in the last few months are causing growing concern among our consumers, which has serious consequences on their behaviour. Higher energy prices, perception of less purchasing power and fears about the future necessarily result in arbitration. However, we have some assets on our side.
The first asset of the food industry is that our clients have to eat every day.
The second asset is that local suppliers may be better positioned in the long term than those requiring frequent trips to the petrol station.
The third asset is that this may give local retailers the opportunity to go back to giving their regular customers good advice on how to buy smarter.
Crises are always presented to us as threatening times. Yet they are also opportunities for those who know how to adapt their offers to trends. This is the role of retailers. Our trend tomorrow is to promote an innovative offer and smart buying. Smart buying is not just about the lowest price; it is about accessible, reassuring products (in a worrying environment), products that attract (price is less important), products where there is a relationship (in a society of false appearances). We should see new product offers at Fruit Logistica; yet beyond that, I think that the service chain will also be bringing consumers lots of novelties.”