Fresh fruit from the Jardins de Porquerolles
Rue des Anciens Chais
83400 Porquerolles
France
Since 2017, the varietal collections of the island of Porquerolles are the support of a market gardening activity in organic culture. The harvested products are sold fresh or transformed and marketed in short circuit under the label of the gardens of Porquerolles.
Since 2014, the Parc national de Port-Cros has wanted to entrust the upkeep of the collection orchards on the island of Porquerolles to the Association de Sauvegarde des Forêts Varoises, as part of an integration project. This partnership between the Parc National, the Conservatoire Botanique de Porquerolles and the association has given rise to the COPAINS project (COllections PAtrimoine INSertion), an exemplary agricultural estate project, providing a meaningful and bonding environment, based on sustainable development.
These collection orchards are home to 269 varieties of fig tree and 50 varieties of mulberry tree. This diversity offers fruit of many shapes, colors and flavors. In addition, seasonal vegetables are offered all year round, selected from ancient, local varieties that contribute to the preservation of cultivated biodiversity. A market gardening activity was taken over in 2017 on some twenty hectares, in compliance with organic farming specifications. This is how "Les Jardins de Porquerolles" came into being.
Water-saving management:
On the island of Porquerolleson the island of Porquerolles, water is scarce and must be shared to meet all needs (drinking water, fire protection, wild flora, etc.). Les Jardins de Porquerolles closely monitors water consumption and implements farming practices designed to reduce it. For their market garden crops, these include the selection of less water-hungry varieties, the use of green manures and mulching by testing local vegetation, drip irrigation with solenoid valves, the recovery of rainwater from greenhouses and agroforestry. The 17ha of orchards have been irrigated for over 40 years with treated wastewater that has circulated for a month in lagoons.