Chocolatier who wanted to save the French almonds

From AFP | AFP -

Patrick Roger, with the exception of chocolate ", where it saw best." And the fried almonds, he was not just buy a garden of 32 hectares.

Artisan, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, sculptures of a polar bear her disappearance; And buying French almonds bleeding that takes the production of ultra-confidence to stop.

For him, "we have never found a level of Spanish or French Californian almonds." He had long hair, shaggy beard and biker boots, do not like him, but Patrick Roger is a true princess on the pea.

Add the almond paste, almond bitter just jumps his palace. "I need a stable aftertaste of almonds." He has French.

Five tricolor varieties are still grown in France and throughout the public research (INRA) developed "much clearer and sharper Californians with a taste of cardboard. Much more Mash almond paste to form immediately," says Hervé Bartelt, Director of cooperative flourished, collecting 80% of national production.

The problem: They are very hard to find. According to various sources, the cut of several industry sources, the production will not exceed 700 tons French almonds in shell, if the demand connected with France 20/25.000 tons.

Under these conditions, the two largest producers in the world - only in California produces more than 700,000 tons (source UN / FAO from 2011), and Spain - happy feed the French market.

"In France, production is always kept confidential because of poor technical skills and lack of structure of the industry," says Hervé Bartelt.

- From California Almond Nougat -

Arborists have always had the almond trees in the garden, but very few companies specialize in almonds. Today, the gardens are dying at a rate of retirement of farmers and the situation was "catastrophic".

That's why Patrick Roger bought 10 acres of almonds on a whim in Portel-des-Corbières in the Aude in 2011 and 22 acres in East Pyrenees Trouillas in May.

"It's an idiot, that I have money put to € 500,000 buy almonds and marzipan for 10 years, but if tomorrow we will continue to sublimate, it is necessary to get involved see"

What harvest 30-60 tonnes per year and feed them chocolate and three of the five "primary colors": covered chocolate, marzipan and almonds. And by the way, the son of this small farmer hopes to draw attention to the industry dies slowly by.

"We need people like Patrick Roger to increase the industry, manufacturers must recognize that the motivation for the" rich Hervé Bartelt for those who want to have long favored by foreign almonds, many food manufacturers.

"I buy Montelimar nougat with almonds and even in France, Ladurée purchase abroad," complained the head of the South almonds. From AFP, a start button, an owner of the real estate group confirms use California almonds interviewed, France can not meet their needs.

But times have changed. Mainly because French was almonds sold an average of 9 euros per kilogram is not so expensive. Drought in California and increased international demand has really made a huge 70% in two years, 6.80 euros per kilo.

What to give a little boost to the industry, which is expected to rise from the ashes. Producers began the process of obtaining the Red Label, "maybe 2016" Hervé Bartelt confidence.

And above all, farmers are beginning to plant "40 hectares per year, that's something," he says.