P-O Life - Anglophone-direct.com

Livingofftheland...
Salad Days
Les Paniers du Maraîcher 66
Nicolas Sauvaget is a third generation market
gardener who lives and works on his farm,
tucked away down a shady little lane in Elne. It’s
a tranquil spot, surrounded by fields of crops
where Nicolas works 12 hours a day on the
same land that was worked by his father and his
grandfather before him.
Nicolas is a relatively small-scale farmer, owning
eight hectares and growing a variety of crops.
Eight hectares is enough to keep him and his
two labourers more than busy. Work on the farm
is relentless – there is always something to do.
When I visited, the men were erecting some new
polytunnels, working in a methodical fashion much
as my husband does when he puts together flatpack
furniture, although on a much bigger scale!
Traditionally Nicolas has sold his produce at
wholesale markets but last October an idea which
had been germinating for some time came to
fruition: veg boxes. Although veg boxes have really
taken off in the UK, they are a relatively new idea in
the P-O. The original idea was to sell to individuals
in their workplace so that Nicolas could sell to
With Louise Sayers
several people with just one delivery point, saving
miles and minimising damage to the environment.
He targeted schools and businesses and the boxes
quickly became popular. A growing number of
clients now visit the farm weekly to pick up their
box.
Veg boxes are a win:win for both Nicolas and
his customers. Direct selling gives Nicolas a
guaranteed market and a fair price for his produce.
His customers can be happy in the knowledge that
they are getting produce which is 100% fresh and
seasonal, usually harvested just 24 hours before it
is put in the box, ensuring maximum nutrients are
retained. All the fruit and vegetables in the boxes
are grown locally in the fields of the Pyrénées-
Orientales.
But isn’t buying like this more expensive? Well,
actually, no. Nicolas sells two types of box – the
duo, designed for a couple – and the famille, good
for a family of four. The boxes are priced at 10 and
20 euros respectively (although sometimes there is
a supplement for extra special produce such as this
week’s gariguette strawberries). The prices come
out extremely favourably when compared to
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