The market gardeners' market - France

The global fresh vegetable market has demonstrated a strong and consistent growth from 2020 to 2022, with a slight decline anticipated in 2023. China remains the dominant producer, contributing significantly to the industry with 616.20 million metric tons of vegetables in 2022. France, the second-largest vegetable producer in Europe after Spain, has observed fluctuations in production as well as in consumer consumption. French market gardening has seen an increase in the average size of farms from 9 hectares in 2010 to 12 hectares in 2020, and while the sector's employment heavily leans towards fixed-term contracts (88,000 out of 100,000 positions), it is facing adverse impacts due to climate hazards like storm Ciaran and flooding in Hauts-de-France. Despite a growing trend towards vegetarian and flexitarian diets, French households' purchasing power has been challenged by inflation, which hit 5.2% in 2022, affecting food consumption. The trade balance for vegetables in France has consistently been in deficit, with imports exceeding exports and a coverage rate below 100. Overall, while the global and French markets for fresh vegetables are generally on an upward trajectory, they are influenced by economic factors, climatic conditions, and changing consumer preferences..Title: Evolution and Adaptation in France's Market Gardening Sector The French market gardening sector, an integral part of the nation's agricultural fabric, has seen a notable evolution in terms of market presence, production, and consumer trends. This sector, which represents the meticulous labor of producing a diversity of fresh vegetables, has had both growth and challenges in the recent years, particularly when it comes to the changing climate, consumer diets, and economic factors influencing production and consumption. Market gardeners in France have adopted various strategies to navigate the competitive landscape, including forming cooperatives such as Société d'Intérêt Collectif Agricole (SICA), which strengthens their ties to local communities. This local anchoring is pivotal for the success of market gardeners as it allows for effective negotiation with wholesale markets and the establishment of robust partnerships. Another notable trend is the shift toward short distribution channels like AMAPs, where consumers pre-purchase a share of the harvest, reinforcing the direct relationship between the producer and the consumer. In the scope of numeric trends, there has been a rise in the number of market garden farms between 2010 and 2020, with a total of around 15,347 farms in 2020, showing an upward trend of over one thousand additional structures from previous years. Employment in the sector is significant, employing around 100,000 people in 2023, most on fixed-term contracts due to the seasonal nature of the work. Regionally, notable areas such as Hauts-de-France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Bretagne, and Occitanie dominate in terms of surface area, collectively making up more than half of the country's total area for vegetable production. However, the sector is not spared by the harsh hand of nature, with climatic hazards like storms and flooding posing substantial threats to the stability of production activities. On the global scale, the fresh vegetable market has witnessed steady growth, with China leading as the major player, representing around 40% of the world's agricultural land dedicated to vegetable production. France also has made its mark as Europe's second-largest vegetable producer after Spain, with an increasing trend in fresh vegetable production up until 2022, although there is a slight decline anticipated in 2023. Consumption patterns in France have been influenced by evolving dietary trends, with an increase in vegetarian and flexitarian diets. Approximately between 2 to 3 percent of the French population follow meat-free diets and, interestingly, more than half of the population has expressed a desire to shift.### Key Market Gardener Players Capitalizing on Diverse Strategies and Innovations The market gardening landscape is vibrant, characterized by an amalgamation of traditional practices and innovative approaches, catering to the demand of both local and international markets. The key players in the market gardening sector leverage diverse strategies to remain competitive and offer their produce effectively to various consumer segments. **Agricultural Cooperatives (SICA Type)** such as the Société d'Intérêt Collectif Agricole are emblematic of collaborative efforts within the sector. These cooperatives represent a powerful union between farmers and stakeholders, including wholesalers and retailers. SICAs are instrumental in localizing the vegetable production and enhancing the territorial link through price negotiations and partnership establishments. They carve out a niche in the competitive market by solidifying the integration of producers within the local economic environment. **Specialized Shipping Companies** are the engines propelling market gardeners into international territories. They boast experienced exporters who master the art of logistics, from consolidation and packaging to the global distribution of perishable goods. These companies are key to transforming small-scale local produce into globally recognized products, navigating the complex landscape of international trade. **Direct Sales Channels** like AMAPs (Associations pour le maintien d'une agriculture paysanne) signify a turn towards consumer-producer intimacy. They embrace the short distribution chain ethos, selling directly to consumers and bypassing conventional retail barriers. Through the subscription model of purchasing seasonal harvests, AMAPs have cultivated a loyal customer base who value fresh, locally-sourced produce. This initiative empowers market gardeners with greater control over prices and tighter bonds with end-users. Within this competitive and innovative arena, key players such as **Anefa**, are noted for their in-depth analysis of the market gardeners' market, dissecting the distribution of employment and observing prevalent contract types, often seasonally adjusted, to ensure agility and resilience in meeting vibrant market demands. This multi-faceted market boasts a plethora of market gardeners, from traditional farms leaning on proven practices to organic cultivators who bank on the increasing consumer consciousness towards sustainable agriculture. The evolving permaculture movement is also taking root, unlocking natural farming practices that promise higher resilience and ecological balance. These players, each with its unique value proposition, sculpt the market gardening sector's presence. From the traditional and expansive fields of conventional farming to the eco-conscious patches of organic cultivators, and from the cooperative force of SICAs to the global reach afforded by specialized shippers, the market gardening sector is a vivid tape

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• Number of pages : 30 pages
• Format : Digital and PDF versions
• Last update : 09/02/2024

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Summary and extracts

List of charts

• Distribution of types of employment contracts on the market gardeners' market
• Number of farms by specialization
• Average farm size by specialization
• Distribution of hectares used for fresh vegetable production worldwide
• Top 10 most-produced vegetables
• Top 10 largest vegetable-producing countries
• Production volume by continent
• Trends in world vegetable production
• World fresh vegetable market sales
• Top 8 vegetable producers in Europe
• Agricultural production of vegetables
• French household consumption of fresh vegetables
• French fresh vegetable consumption (volume and value)
• Trends in vegetable production
• Frequency of vegetarian meal consumption
• Distribution of the population on different diets
• Top 10 most popular vegetables
• Breakdown of vegetable purchases by sales outlet
• Importance of eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day
• The desire to eat more fruit and vegetables
• Monthly fruit and vegetable budget
• Balance of trade in vegetables
• France's main customer countries
• France's main suppliers
• Inflation rate trend
• Impact of inflation on bulk fruit and vegetable consumption
• Financial capacity to buy as many fruits and vegetables as desired
• Trend in average vegetable prices
• Breakdown of fruit and vegetable production by size
• Sales of organic fresh fruit and vegetables
• Barriers to organic consumption
• Evolution of organic land used for organic vegetable production

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