Publication of an application for registration of a name pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs

(2021/C 61/10)

This publication confers the right to oppose the application pursuant to Article 51 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) within three months from the date of this publication.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘Cerise des coteaux du Ventoux’

EU No: PGI-FR-02446 – 3.1.2019

PDO ( ) PGI (X)

1. Name(s)

‘Cerise des coteaux du Ventoux’

2. Member State or third country

France

3. Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1. Type of product

Class 1.6. Fruit, vegetables and cereals, fresh or processed

3.2. Description of the product to which the name in (1) applies

‘Cerise des coteaux du Ventoux’ is a red table cherry obtained from cultivars of Prunus avium L., Prunus cerasus L. or their hybrids and supplied fresh to consumers. It has the following characteristics:

— Minimum size of 24 mm. A tolerance of 5 % by number of cherries measuring less than 24 mm per tray is accepted, but none of the cherries may measure 22 mm or less,

— Optimal ripeness determined on the basis of three colour ranges and a minimum sugar content for harvest, depending on the variety, Varieties Hâtif Burlat, Summit Belge, Van, Géant d’Hedelfingen Folfer Colour (CTIFL colour code) 3 to 4 4 to 5 5 to 6 Minimum sugar content 11,5° brix 12,5° brix 15° brix

— Where containers hold a single variety of cherry, they must be of a uniform colour.

3.3. Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only)

—

3.4. Specific steps in production that must take place in the defined geographical area

The steps that must take place in the geographical area are production, harvesting, sorting and sizing.

3.5. Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product to which the registered name refers

The PGI cherries are packed in containers holding up to 6 kg. If the cherries are packed in punnets, the weight of the tray holding them may be greater than this, but not more than 10 kg, with each punnet weighing no more than 3 kg.

3.6. Specific rules concerning labelling of the product to which the registered name refers

In addition to the mandatory information required by the rules on the labelling and presentation of foodstuffs, the labelling must feature the registered name of the product and the EU PGI logo in the same visual field.

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

The geographical area defined for the production of ‘Cerise des coteaux du Ventoux’ stretches up the foothills of Mont Ventoux from the Comtat Venaissin plains to the west and the Luberon massif to the south in the department of Vaucluse. This is the area where ‘Cerise des coteaux du Ventoux’ is actually grown and where post-harvest handling takes place.

The geographical area covers the following communes in the department of Vaucluse:

Ansouis, Apt, Aubignan, Auribeau, Le Barroux, La Bastidonne, Le Beaucet, Beaumettes, Beaumont-du-Ventoux, Bédoin, Blauvac, Bonnieux, Buoux, Cabrières-d’Aigues, Cabrières-d’Avignon, Cadenet, Caromb, Carpentras, Caseneuve, Castellet, Crestet, Crillon-le-Brave, Cucuron, Entrechaux, Flassan, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, Gargas, Gignac, Gordes, Goult, Grambois, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Joucas, Lacoste, Lafare, Lagnes, Lauris, Lioux, Lourmarin, Malaucène, Malemort-du-Comtat, Maubec, Mazan, Ménerbes, Mérindol, Méthamis, Modène, Mormoiron, La Motte-d'Aigues, Murs, Oppède, Pernes-les-Fontaines, Pertuis, Peypin-d'Aigues, Puget, Puyvert, Robion, La Roque-Alric, La Roque-sur-Pernes, Roussillon, Rustrel, Saignon, Saint-Didier, Saint-Hippolyte-le-Graveyron, Saint-Marcellin-lès-Vaison, Saint-Martin-de-Castillon, Saint-Martin-de-la-Brasque, Saint-Pantaléon, Saint-Pierre-de-Vassols, Saint-Romain-en-Viennois, Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt, Sannes, Saumane-de-Vaucluse, Sivergues, Suzette, Taillades, La Tour-d’Aigues, Vaison-la-Romaine, Vaugines, Venasque, Viens, Villars, Villedieu, Villelaure, Villes-sur-Auzon.

5. Link with the geographical area

The link with the geographical area is founded on the reputation of ‘Cerise des coteaux du Ventoux’ and a specific quality due notably to the climatic conditions and local expertise. The cherry trees are grown in a production area where red table cherries have been a traditional crop for centuries and this is the basis for the product’s reputation. The cherries have a perfectly balanced ripeness due to especially favourable natural factors in the geographical area and they are big because the growers know exactly how to prune the trees.

In this production area, cherries are a traditional crop that has been grown for hundreds of years (the first written references to the importance of cherry growing in the area date from the 17th century). At that time, they were grown essentially for family consumption. The trees grew in family gardens, but could also be found dotted among cereal crops in the fields and on embankments. It is a traditional red table cherry growing area.

The ‘Cerise des coteaux du Ventoux’ production area is situated in a unique environment, nestling against Mont Ventoux and the slopes of the Vaucluse mountains and the Luberon massif, where altitudes can vary from 50 to 600 metres. The area is under the influence of a Mediterranean climate and is known for its plentiful sunshine (2 760 hours a year) and the Mistral, a strong northerly wind which does, however, subside as it approaches the slopes of Mont Ventoux. There is also a marked variation between day-time and night-time temperatures, due to the cool air masses that flow down from the summit of Mont Ventoux (1 912 m).

Over the years, specific expertise has developed in the management of pedestrian orchards, to facilitate cultivation work (especially pruning) and make it easier for pickers to reach the fruit. These orchards are pruned every year in order to guarantee consistent production and above all to help the trees produce good-sized fruit.

The cherries are picked by hand only. This is done by experienced pickers who are trained in the use of the cherry colour code produced by the Centre Technique Interprofessionnel des Fruits et Légumes (CTIFL). Following the recommendations of the colour code for each variety, the pickers refer to the colour code for each variety in order to select fruit with an optimal sugar-acidity ratio. For each new or old variety, CTIFL has matched the colour of the fruit to the sugar-acidity ratio. Thus, for each variety an optimal colour has been established, which corresponds to the best sugar-acidity ratio.

Sorting and sizing are always preferably carried out in the field, although the introduction of cherry sizers in the early 2000s means that sizing operations are now sometimes carried out indoors. Whether the cherries are sized manually or by machine, the operators’ expertise is crucial to ensure careful handling of a fragile fruit and to preserve its quality. These practices allow batches of fruit to be placed on the market that are very uniform in terms of size and colour.

The orchards are planted with cherry trees selected for their ability to produce large, firm, shiny and flavoursome fruit. The trees are pruned every year to guarantee consistent production but above all to produce good-sized fruit.

‘Cerise des coteaux du Ventoux’ gained its reputation because of its size but also because it can be found on the market from the beginning of May until mid-July. These cherries are available on the market for over two months because the orchards are planted at varying altitudes, as described under natural factors, but also because not all the varieties grown ripen at the same time.

Many cherry markets were set up, attesting to the economic importance of the crop. The first was established in La Tour-d’Aigues in 1902 and others were set up in the neighbouring communes. They were held daily and consignors would come to buy the cherries from the producers by mutual agreement.

Given the scale of production, the communes of Ventoux joined forces to set up a market in the commune of Saint Didier in 1960.

Three Marchés d’Intérêt Nationaux or national wholesale markets (Avignon, Chateaurenard and Cavaillon) and the terminal market in Carpentras opened in the 1960s. They ensure transparency with regard to supply and demand and more openness with regard to prices.

‘Cerise des coteaux du Ventoux’ is a table cherry that is supplied fresh to consumers. It is harvested at the point of optimal ripeness according to the CTIFL colour code and the minimum sugar content laid down for each variety. It is distinguished in particular by its large size (minimum 24 mm). Thanks to the operators’ expertise in sorting and sizing, the cherries in each container are uniform in colour and size.

‘Cerise des coteaux du Ventoux’ is a product that has specific qualities but also depends on the growers’ expertise and has a historical reputation.

Climatic conditions in the production area are unique, with plenty of sunshine and the northerly wind known as the Mistral. These conditions help prevent the development of diseases and favour early cropping in the sheltered areas and later cropping at higher altitudes.

In the geographical area there is a marked difference between day-time and night-time temperatures, which favours the production of ripe, firm fruit with a strong colour. This adaptation is evidenced by the leading position of these cherries on the national market.

The growing methods, such as use of the pedestrian orchard system and regular pruning, are key factors in making it possible to consistently obtain a uniform crop of good-sized fruit at the optimal stage of ripeness.

Mastery of the sorting and sizing operations comes from experience linked to the long-standing expertise of generations of growers. It guarantees the production of batches of fruit that are uniform in terms of both colour and size.

Because they are fragile, cherries must be sorted and sized quickly (within 48 hours of harvesting) and in containers of limited capacity to avoid crushing the fruit.

For over 25 years, the information campaigns of the producers’ union have helped build the reputation of ‘Cerise des coteaux du Ventoux’. The product’s excellent reputation led to it being presented at the opening of the French pavilion at the Milan Expo by the French President on 21 June 2015, where among ‘[…] top quality produce […] French fruit [on show included] Cerise des coteaux du Ventoux […]’ (O & Q Hebdo, 21 June 2015). France Télévisions has shown several reports focusing on the product’s specific characteristics; for example, the report on the one o’clock news on the France 2 channel on 4 June 2019, which can be found on the francetvinfo.fr website, showing the work of operators at an orchard north of Carpentras and explaining that: ‘Only the best cherries will be sold […] [and] they are sorted by hand according to size (more than 24 mm) and colour’. Other specialist print journals, such as Rungis Actualités of May 2019, also mention the distinctive characteristics of ‘Cerise des coteaux du Ventoux’, namely: ‘[…] the ripeness of the fruit and their size, which must be over 24 mm, […] [linked with] the sorting methods, either manual or mechanised’.

Publication reference of the specification

(the second subparagraph of Article 6(1) of the Regulation)

https://extranet.inao.gouv.fr/fichier/CDC-CeriseCVentoux200619.pdf

(1) OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1.