The health crisis linked to Covid-19 will ultimately not have had an economic impact on the Mont d’Or sector for the past season, which came to an end at the start of confinement. “There were hardly any products to sell, in stock, in the cheese factories. Some cheeses have been donated to associations, but it has remained very anecdotal in terms of volumes, ”confirms Eric Fevrier. The president of the Mont d’Or union and the 500 producers of the famous cheese launched production of the 2020 cru this Saturday, August 15.
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“The staff are already very sensitive to health rules”
In the context of a pandemic, the major change is to be found in the organization of work inside the workshops, where social distancing and barrier gestures are required as everywhere else. “In the food industry, staff are already very sensitive to these provisions: hand washing, hygiene, etc.”, explains Mr. Fevrier. “Our major concern is not to have an infected person within a team. This would force us to close all or part of a workshop. So, we have worked well on the management of input and output flows. Make sure that the teams do not cross paths. “The schedules were thus spread out and the tasks of the different operators were distributed” so that there is as little interaction as possible. “
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Will removing the mask to taste be allowed?
What about the casting of Mont d’Or, prepared this year with the association of traders of Pontarlier? “We have already reduced the sails”, continues the president of the mixed union. “The parade and the producers’ meal are canceled. On the other hand, we wanted to maintain the tasting part with all the workshops. The association is in discussion with the prefecture to obtain the agreements of the competent authorities. Will removing the mask to taste be allowed? If the prefecture answers in the affirmative, the demonstration cannot be maintained. Eric Fevrier concludes: “There is a real desire on the part of the city of Pontarlier, the traders and the Mont d’Or union to maintain the tasting. “
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