The market gardeners' market - France

Market gardening is the intensive facet of vegetable production, mainly intended for sale as fresh produce. A market gardener is a farmer who grows vegetables. Market gardening encompasses the cultivation of fresh vegetables, whether under cover or in the open field. This farming practice is characterized by great diversity, both in the types of vegetables grown and in the cultivation and marketing methods employed.Market gardeners are active throughout France, with a particularly strong presence in Brittany, Aquitaine, Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy. France is Europe's second-largest vegetable producer after Spain, and fresh vegetable production is set to increase between 2020 and 2022, before declining slightly in 2023. Our study will focus on fresh vegetable production in France; vegetables processed into canned or frozen products will not be included in our scope of analysis. It should be noted that, worldwide, the fresh vegetable market is doing well, and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 2. 8% between 2022 and 2028. China amply dominates the market, with 40% of the world's agricultural land used for vegetable production, and over 615 million metric tons of fresh vegetables produced in 2022. In France, the market evolves in line with consumer trends, and growers must also adapt to the vagaries of the weather, which have a major impact on harvests.