Among the varieties sold by Earth Market, the Mariguette is an elongated strawberry that entered the French market 7 years ago. “Created by breeder Marionnet Label, the Mariguette is a premium product. It follows a rigorous set of specifications that have been put in place by the association which promotes it. Although there are many varieties of elongated strawberries, the Mariguette is one of the rare varieties that have managed to break through,” explains Julien Cumant, variety coordinator for the Mariguette Association.
The Mariguette Association acts on the technical, qualitative, and promotional levels
Today, the association represents 13 marketers in France, 100 affiliated producers, and seven members of the board of directors (Aquisol, Rougeline, Sacfel, Marmandise, Périgord Fruits, Savéol, Earth Market), a president (Jean-Michel Ruchaud), a vice-president (Eric Bazile) and a treasurer (Gilles Bertrandias).
The association supports producers and technicians on a technical level, guarantees traceability from the production of the plant to the marketing of the fruit, and it also actively promotes the variety.
“In order to guarantee the best possible quality and optimal traceability, we are going to monitor more than 250 checks on Mariguette marketers, mainly with AIFLG. We also support producers by organizing Mariguette technical days, for example, as was the case last week. The ultimate goal is to set up a brand with precise specifications and to have new varieties within this brand that adapt to new climatic constraints while being in line with consumer expectations. It is a project for today and for the future since it can evolve over time.”
The Mariguette brings continuity to the segment of elongated strawberries
The Mariguette has found its place on the French market, as it meets a very specific need. “The value chain from producer to distributor needed continuity in the elongated segment with the Gariguette, without the two varieties competing with each other. The Mariguette arrives when strawberry consumption usually increases, which allows us to provide supermarkets with a continuous supply of elongated strawberries. With its shiny orange-red color, the Mariguette is an elongated variety with a firm flesh that is very sweet, with very low acidity and a distinct flavor. Consumers are particularly fond of its powerful aroma.”
A productive variety with an extended campaign
The season started at the end of March, and the Mariguette should reach its production peak next week.
“It is a strawberry that arrives on the market after the early varieties and enters full production in May, the month of choice for strawberry consumption. We expect 3,000 tons this year and hope to reach 10,000 tons in the future. It has the advantage of being a perpetual and productive variety, with very interesting yields depending on the cultivation itinerary.
"It can also be produced in different production areas, from the southeast of France to the southwest (where it is sold with the Red Label certification), as well as in Brittany, the Loire Valley, and even the north of France. This means that the campaign is well spread out, lasting until the end of September. The fact that it is a perpetual variety induces a second production cycle, which is a great advantage for producers. Another interesting aspect is that it is a firm variety that holds rather well.”
The Mariguette has aroused great interest in France, and the variety has also generated numerous requests from foreign producers.
For more information:
Julien Cumant
Association Mariguette
Tel.: +41 79 866 45 74
association@mariguette.com