The Choudou cabbage produced by Fermes Larrère continues to progress on the market. The variety is available all year round, as it is cultivated from July to December in the Landes region and from January to June in Portugal. “We end the French production around mid-December and our Portuguese team then takes over on our Comporta farm. The cabbage is delivered raw to our packing station in the Landes and then shipped to our clients. It is peeled on each day of shipment to guarantee the best presentation, taste and quality for our star vegetable,” explains Patrick Larrère.
New AGEC packaging for the Choudou with a cellulose net, available at the end of this year.
Consumption on the rise
Each year, the consumption of Choudou cabbage increases a little more. “The demand is stronger than last year, with a better presence on the shelves thanks to our partner Promofel. We also try to stimulate our wholesale clients because there are still some unexplored sectors on the MIN markets and GASC for restaurants. The Choudou is now present everywhere in France. We try to plan our production volume to meet the expectations of our clients and progress a little more each year.”
Planted and harvested manually, the Choudou is an ancient variety that stands out primarily for its taste. “A mild and sweet flavor without sulfurous substances, which makes it easy to digest, compared to the more traditional cabbage. Some consumers have even reconciled with cabbage thanks to this variety. With the Choudou, there is no persistent pungent taste in the mouth like with traditional cabbage.” It can be eaten raw or cooked, in salads or fried in the pan. This versatility allows it to "challenge other vegetables like the iceberg lettuce or Chinese cabbage. Another advantage is that the Choudou keeps for a long time, even “for weeks if it is stored in the fridge.”
Exclusive partnership with a Japanese company
Since 2011, Fermes Larrère has been working in exclusive partnership with Sakata, a Japanese seed company. “They believed in this product and were looking for a producer to develop it. It is a good match, an atypical partnership we have grown very attached to. It is a story of people with common values guided by the taste of our Choudou cabbage.”
Fermes Larrère also produces sweet potatoes, a crop initiated a few years ago and progressing steadily. The company has recently introduced new printed trays for the consumer to accompany this growth. In order to introduce the lesser known culinary possibilities of the vegetable, the new trays include instructions for the preparation of sweet and savory dishes with sweet potatoes.
For more information:
Patrick Larrère
Fermes Larrère
2430 Route Douc, 40410 Liposthey
contact@fermes-larrere.com
fermes-larrere.fr