Par Writing The Republican Langon
Published on 24 May 22 at 14:50
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Soon the “Made in Aillas” olive? This is the project in which Bernard Saïn, a retired farmer from Avignon, has in any case embarked, who has been cultivating with his wife Françoise since 2018 an area of 1.5 ha, entirely dedicated to the small green marble of the Mediterranean.
Also from the South-East, the couple is not at their first attempt since they were already working the fruit on the lands of Avignon in the 90s, before floods ravaged the plots three years in a row: “It does a big blow to your morale when you see your work tool affected three times in 15 months…” recalls the man who was originally trained as an arborist.
So, when the couple arrived in South-Gironde in 2013, after having converted for ten years to the horse-drawn carriage trade in the Gers, the idea sprung up to go back to basics, recalls Bernard: “We had this plot of land which we was doing nothing. Then one day my wife said to me ‘Since it’s your first job, plant olive trees!‘ And it was on again. “. And to add, with an undisguised grin: “It also allows me to improve my mediocre retirement. “.
600 planted vines and “the first orchard in Gironde!” »
In 2018, two hundred plants were therefore planted, then two hundred more the following year and finally two hundred last in 2021. On the branches, no less than five varieties are represented, both green and black: “Picholine, Cayon, Bouteillan, Aglandau …” enumerates the olive grower for the attention of the most connoisseurs.
In total, it is 600 feet on a 1.5 ha of half organic, half conventional crops, which have emerged, “the first orchard of olive trees planted in Gironde” wants to believe, big smile, the 65-year-old farmer who also insists on joint satisfaction: “It is above all a common project shared with my wife and which I would not have done without her, because it is an adventure that requires a lot of work and investment. “.
An investment that already amounts to 8,000€, for no return profit at present, the trees are not yet large enough to produce in quantity. “But with my wife, we are a bit like the Ayatollahs of work! is not discouraged Bernard Saïn, who foresees the first large harvests within two or three years.
A mill to come
In the meantime, the producer is turned towards another objective: to have his mill to produce his own olive oil when these arrive and “also to allow individuals to be able to grind their own olives if they have a foot in their garden. and they never know what to do with it,” he explains.
However, not all the production will end up in the bottle, a part being intended for simple consumption. Oil and jars will then be sold directly at home and on the markets, in particular that of Bazas projects the farmer. So, Aillas, new land of the olive?
Contact : 06.09.98.36.21.
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