Among the most exclusive apples in France today is Cœur de Reine, which has risen exponentially in consumer appeal and overtaken popular varieties. It is marketed by Blue Whale, a French brand that began operations in 1950 as a conglomerate of food producers. The firm boasts nationwide apple growers extending from the Garonne Valley to the Alps.
Particularly keen on the phenomenal popularity of Cœur de Reine, Selina Wamucii had a chat with Anouck Morin, Communication Manager at Blue Whale.
Morin first delineates the special characteristics behind the consumer appeal of the branded apples.
“Cœur de Reine apples have a balanced taste, are very aromatic, crisp and juicy. They are bi-colored and have an attractive size and visual appeal.
“It is an apple with an assertive, highly aromatic taste, which satisfies connoisseurs in particular, who account for over 20% of consumers. It strikes just the right balance between sugar and acidity.
“A versatile variety, it is suitable for all uses: it is pleasant to crunch and holds up well to cooking.”
Five Apple-growing Regions in France
Morin then dissects the merits of Blue Whale’s five apple-growing regions in France.
“We produce it (Cœur de Reine) in 3 different regions, each with its own advantages:
“Garonne Valley: synonymous with good life and local produce, the Garonne Valley is the original cradle of arboriculture. With its exceptional agro-climatic advantages, this terroir reveals the gustatory excellence of our Coeur de Reine apples.”
Terroir, mentioned above, is a French word that means the total natural environment of producing something good, particularly wine.
“Loire Valley: with its combination of three oceanic climates and plenty of summer sunshine, the Loire Valley is ideal for Coeur de Reine apples. Anjou has a strong tradition of arboriculture, and its alluvial soils provide ideal fertile soil for our apple trees.
“Alpes de haute provence: Coeur de Reine’s plots are located at an altitude of 400 meters in the old river bed.”
Thus ends the charming picture of the growing regions.
Sales and Marketing Info
It is understood that Blue Whale grows and markets these apples exclusively?
“No,” Morin explains, “we’re a collective of nearly 300 French fruit growers. We’re the leader in the French apple industry and export to over 70 countries. We offer a range of nearly 30 apple varieties. We also produce pears, kiwis, plums and grapes.”
Talking of this wide-range of crops, Blue Whale also adheres to European Union (EU)’s sustainability laws. Morin explains:
“European agriculture offers a strict regulatory framework. Blue Whale’s organic apple range represents around 20% of our apple volumes.
“The “cœur de reine” variety comes from orchards with the “high environmental value” and “eco-responsible orchards” labels, and does not belong to our organic range.”
Ultimately, Blue Whale produce sells within France, the European Union and outside the EU.
“We export our fruit to over 70 countries as follows:
- 1/3 to France
- 1/3 to the rest of Europe
- 1/3 to the rest of the world.”
The Communication Manager ends with this insightful export data.