On my yesterday's shopping list were 'Prunes'; I usually eat a couple every day, they quosh any desire for sweets.
At Leclerc, I was just grabbing my usual packet, when a man said to me "Why not buy these instead"; holding up the packet above.
I had a look at the pack, and it seemed to offer all my criteria, so I had a chat with him. He told me that they were totally natural, stoned by hand, traditionally dried in the farm's ovens, and were mi-cuits (semi dried). Perfect.
I do like to buy artisanal products wherever possible; especially when it comes to food. I tasted them as soon as I got home; they were really excellent.
When I took the pack from the man; he pointed at it and said "That's me on the front", and of course I instantly recognised him.
What a nice person. He's from very nearby, he's passionate about what he produces, and he even mentions his children Christelle and Sebastien on the packet. Well done M Salliot.
If only all products were thus.
They sound good. Ours are from California bulk processed.
ReplyDeleteThese are so different to those mass produced Prunes of old. They're soft, juicy, and delicious.
DeleteThis seems to be much bigger in France than in the UK.... our local dairy where the cows milk themselves, was the first.... offering yoghurt as well as milk..... then diversified into rice puddings, semolinas and plain milk deserts, treble cream (so thick a spoon stands up in it) as well as more standard milk products.... and, finally got certfied to supply raw "green-top" milk.
ReplyDeleteShe was quickly followed by another dairy. Then our local goat farmers branched into pates, a tome, goat garlic sausage.... followed by others offering flour in different grades, and now other grains like spelt and buckwheat... another supplies various lentils and beans... another grows durrum wheat and makes pasta.......
all this in the last eight years...
assisted by the French supermarket policy of selling local... but very many are direct from the farm or one of the three "producers shops" we have locally.... and, now the neighbouring village that has no bar, boulangerie, etcetera because it is just too small has an unpersoned self-service store where local producers keep their own cabinets full of produce and is accessible 20/7... and is very well used.
Good local produce, where the money goes direct to the producer except for cabinet rental.
I would like to try those prunes... but I hope I never see them in our LeClerc... it would mean that they'd travelled too far and too much of what they cost me would go to middle men.... growing rich on the work of others... in our local supermarkets the local producers supply direct... often stocking their own products on the shelves.
[Sorry.... I'll get off my soap box!!]
It's a shame he wasn't selling them outside in the car park; he could have avoided Leclerc's percentage cut. It was a strange experience having a producer literally thrusting his product into my hands; but I'm happy he did, they're excellent.
DeleteI'm afraid none of my neighbouring farmers have diversified. They have both simply stopped producing whatever was either too much work, or unprofitable. No more cows, ducks, hens, wheat, vines, pigs, etc. Now just Chestnuts, maize, gites, and sunflowers; with lots of land lying idle. What a difference to when I first came to live here!
DeleteEU money to grub up vines for starters.
DeleteI was just reading about EU decommissioning of UK fishing boats. Why our government went along with it, I can't imagine. Once thriving fishing ports like Fleetwood are now ghost towns. Disgusting.
DeleteGood to support a local producer
ReplyDeleteSmall and local usually means 'quality'; not always, but mostly.
DeleteI know it sometimes happens that local farmers get a little stall in a supermarket to sell their produits. Prunes in little quantity are very healthy as all dried fruits. Good winter treats.
ReplyDeleteHe seemed to be just standing around, not really promoting his wares. I'm pleased he was there.
Delete3 chopped pruned on my 3 Shredded Wheat each morning. Keeps me going.
ReplyDeleteI hope yours are as good as the above!
DeleteA good salesmen too.
ReplyDeleteVery impressive all round.
DeleteI buy the soft and squiggy Agen prunes but I bet yours are better ..... I would love to buy them from a local guy but you don’t get many prune producers in Hertfordshire !!! XXXX
ReplyDeleteI suppose these would come under the category of Agen Prunes, but they're very much farm produced. Delicious.
DeleteLucky you met him. Nice to able to support a local grower. I'm scrabbling around for red wine again. Might have to buy from the supermarket damn it....though k does have a friendly wine maker not far away. I'm hoping he made red wine this year
ReplyDeleteHe was such a pleasant man as well. I was happy to pay a bit over the odds.
DeleteI think that's really nice to be able to meet the actual producer in the supermarket.
ReplyDeleteHe was a classic local farmer, I could almost imagine him at V du Pd market.
DeleteA good reason to buy local.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Good product; nice man.
DeleteDo you have plum trees, Cro? Could you make your own prunes?
ReplyDeleteWe do; of the right variety too. As for drying them ourselves, I think we'd need a dedicated drier; I don't think the sun would be enough.
DeleteI buy apricots which are semi dried and are delicious. I have half a dozen at some point in the day with around with same number of walnut halves.
ReplyDeleteI buy those too; usually the dark ones which are untreated. When I was at school a friend of mine lived in Persia (Tehran), and would return after holidays with sheets of Apricot Leather. That was really good!!
DeleteA nice and decent salesman, too. Unlike the preceding shill.
ReplyDeleteYes he was, he was a breath of fresh air.
DeleteI do wish all the Snake oil salesmen would go elsewhere. Very annoying.
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