Oscar, the reference brand of French kiwi fruit, is celebrating its fortieth anniversary.
It was necessary to be visionary to imagine a tricolour future for the kiwi, commercial name of the fruit of the plant coming from China, the actinidia. At the end of the 70’s, however, several producers from Dordogne, Corsica and Landes started their plantations, and structured themselves around a GIE, which developed from 1980 under the brand Oscar. “We have been pioneers in our French lands, motivated from day one by values of solidarity, listening and responsibility. It is this respect, combined with a love for the good product and the land, which has guided us towards a reasoned production and which has allowed us, in forty years, to become a major player in the market.”says François Laffite, kiwiculturist and founder of Oscar.
Today, Oscar groups together 5 cooperatives and nearly 350 producers, all of whom are committed to producing a local fruit in harmony with nature. “To grow kiwifruit, a privileged context is necessary: a mild and humid oceanic climate and soils rich in alluvial deposits”, says Oscar. With a view to excellence, the brand is committed to implementing each stage of production in strict compliance with sustainable agriculture, contributing to the balance of ecosystems and the maintenance of biodiversity: beehives are installed in the orchards to promote the natural pollination of fruit, watering at the foot of the trees based on a permanent measurement of hydrometry ensures sustainable management of water resources, and a process of traceability of each fruit from the orchard to the plate is assured. This allows us to offer the market, from November to May, a quality French product.
Its wide range of kiwifruit includes the green Oscar Hayward, a high quality fruit that can be eaten as is and offers a good balance between sugar and acidity. The Oscar Gold, on the other hand, is distinguished by its golden flesh and smooth skin. It is less acidic and sweeter, but just as rich in vitamins. “Concentrated nutrients, the kiwi is a healthy fruit par excellence. It promotes the development of immune defenses and remains very resistant to disease,” says the manager. In these times, what more could you ask for?
