the red label is popular with strawberries

A blood-red color, a sign of optimum ripeness. These strawberries are red label gariguettes, a guarantee of high quality. They are 86 to produce in Lot-et-Garonne. This is the case of Sylvie Zanutti: “The texture, the sugar level, it’s just what it takes to make the label”. Another criterion of the red label, the size, which must be perfect to put it in a tray. Under the greenhouses, the Portuguese and Spanish workforce is busy. In one morning, more than a ton of gariguettes were picked.

As soon as harvested, it’s time to leave. The fragile fruit is carefully stored in a truck. In 24 hours, they will be on sale in stores. But first, head to the cooperative. This is where Sylvie sells her production. Just before, it must pass the red label approval. This label, for strawberries, has existed since 2009. In thirteen years, in Lot-et-Garonne, production has increased from 50 to 600 tonnes and sales follow. This year, the sector is worried because all the costs have increased.