Je veux savoir à propos de…

10.7.2023

5.

EN

Official Journal of the European Union
C 243/17

Link with the geographical area The geographical area consists of a crystalline basement formed by the pedogenic development of metamorphic and granitic rocks, including local formations of alterites and formations on colluvial or old residual alluvial soils.
The light, deep soil has good water retention properties.
The geographical area has a humid ocean climate, with fairly abundant, albeit not excessive, rainfall average annual rainfall of less than 1 300 mm and temperatures that do not reach extremes average temperature above 9 C.
Another factor is altitude: orchards are located on well-ventilated hilltop plateaux, at an altitude generally between 350 and 450 metres.
Limousin is a region with a strong fruit-growing tradition. The Golden Delicious variety, which has been grown in Limousin since 1950, has continued to develop there. In this area, apple growing complements livestock farming and is based on traditional cultivation practices such as moderate irrigation and hand-picking.
The area also has local expertise in storage. Once harvested, the apples are stored in dedicated rooms with a controlled atmosphere, the technical and maintenance parameters of which are set every year waterproofing, volume, number of hours of operation, etc.. Regular monitoring is carried out to check that the batches are preserved properly at all times.
Pomme du Limousin is characterised by its excellent eating qualities and its presentation: it has a slightly elongated shape, a particular colour, firm flesh, a high amount of juice, a good balance between sweetness and acidity and a long shelf life, which allows it to be marketed until 1 August.
The natural environment combined with the tree-growing tradition make the area well suited to the growing of the Golden Delicious variety and have enabled the original characteristics of the Pomme du Limousin to be preserved.
At higher altitude, there is more sunshine than in the plains, while the highest temperatures are moderate. The combination of cold nights and hot, sunny days on the plateaux of the geographical area favours the development of a good sweetness/acidity balance and the pink skin pigmentation resulting from the anthocyanins that are characteristic of the Pomme du Limousin.
Because they are grown at higher altitude at contrasting temperatures between night and day, the apples have a more elongated shape and are firmer and juicier.
Apple growing in the Limousin draws on specific cultivation practices. Moderate irrigation, for instance, allows the fruit to develop and keep its qualities better, and makes for better flower induction the following year. In addition, harvesting is done by hand to ensure that the fruit keeps all its qualities.
The area also has local expertise in storage which is geared towards the Pomme du Limousin varietys long shelf life.
After harvesting the fruit is cooled to the core as quickly as possible. The rooms are filled in the shortest time possible and immediately put in a controlled atmosphere to preserve the quality of the fruit.
The Pomme du Limousin represents a dynamic sector, employing some 1 500 permanent and 2 500 seasonal workers 2016 figures.

Reference to publication of the specification https info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-0d72390b-f4c0-4dc8-a8f6-83661bd57edc