The French ‘Cultivées Sans Pesticides’ label is 5 years old

3 Breton cooperatives working together against pesticides: Prince-de-Bretagne, Saveol and Solarenn. The 3 main vegetable producer groups in the French Brittany are committed to responsible agriculture, offering French consumers the guarantee of eating tomatoes grown without pesticides. Joining forces for greater impact and weight was the opportunity the three main Breton producers organisations seized just 5 years ago when they created the ’Cultivées Sans Pesticides’ (means grown without use of pesticides) label through the ‘Alliance Nature & Saveurs’ association.

Three Breton brands join forces to defend healthy eating

The three cooperatives Prince de Bretagne, Saveol and Solarenn account for almost half of French production. Starting in 2019, they have opted for a dual commitment to means and results, guaranteeing the absence of synthetic phytosanitary products, and therefore residues, on their tomatoes, and to focus on joint communication around a ‘Cultivées Sans Pesticides’ label. ‘Three cooperatives joining forces, even though they are competitors in the same area, with the common aim of improving product quality, is a pretty unusual thing to promote,’ points out Catherine Legal, Saveol's marketing director, who is responsible for the brands.

A label that has proved its worth over the last 5 years

Brittany wants to remain France's ‘larder’. As France's leading agri-food region, Brittany is at the heart of the challenges facing France in terms of food sovereignty. Today, nearly 9 out of 10 French people believe that companies should make social and environmental issues a core part of their business (source: BVA Xsight survey of 1,460 French people, February 2024). The commitment to pesticide-free production and the jobs generated by the activities of the three Breton cooperatives are fully in line with society's expectations.

Alliance Nature et Saveurs association

A consumer survey by Interfel (fresh fruit and vegetable confidence barometer) in November 2023 showed that 74% of consumers have more confidence in pesticide-free fruit and vegetables. By eating Alliance Nature et Saveurs ‘Cultivated Without Pesticides’ tomatoes, one can be sure of a trusted, high-quality product that respects both consumers and nature. The three brands are committed to transparency and traceability, so that customers, distributors and consumers alike, can be sure of what they are getting.

With no use of synthetic pesticides from the flower to the table

In 2024, the label celebrates its 5th anniversary. And the commitment of its market gardeners and technicians has well expanded. As proof, the initial target of 30% to 40% of their produce being grown without pesticides by 2019 was largely met. By 2023, they aim to have between 70% and 90% of their tomatoes ‘pesticide free’. Overall, more than 500 analyses will be carried out in 2023 by an independent laboratory to certify the daily commitment to the “Cultivés Sans Pesticides” approach (Capinov analysis laboratory).

The Alliance in figures 

- 100% production from Brittany

- 3 Breton brands: Prince de Bretagne, Savéol and Solarenn

- 1 ‘Alliance Nature et Saveurs’ association

- 1 unique certified specification with a dual commitment to resources and results

- 1 common charter and 1 common label to identify tomatoes grown without pesticides at the point of sale

- 176 tomato growers

- 200,000 tonnes of tomatoes grown by cooperatives

- 50% of the tomato industry in France (by volume)