More and more French farmers are choosing to grow tropical fruit. Bananas, guavas, and other exotic fruit are now grown in greenhouses in the south of France by a few pioneering producers trying to reduce the carbon footprint related to imports.
In the Pyrénées-Orientales, Frédéric Morlot grows many exotic products on his farm called Les Arts Verts. “In the greenhouse, we have some turmeric, ginger, mangos, and soon, we will also have some jamrosat, a rose-scented fruit.”
“The challenge is to get heat, and in the end, it is the plants themselves that will generate this heat. With the scientists, we saw that plants create antifreeze, which is contained in their sap, and they can protect themselves during the winter.”
Frédéric Morlot sells his products to French restaurants and even counts a starred chef among his clients. “We are able to collaborate with the greatest French chefs on exotic products that will not travel for hours by plane or a month by boat. This will finally allow us to have a zero carbon impact.”
Source: france24.com