Tarn-et-Garonne : The Orchard of the South West

Fruit paradise

Tarn-et-Garonne is considered as”most beautiful orchard in the South-West”.

A fruit-growing department where wine-growing is everywhere, with six appellations including 4 PDO (protected designation of origin) including the AOP Fronton, a vineyard straddling the Haute-Garonne and the Tarn-et-Garonne. The Chasselas de Moissac grape, one of the department’s flagship products, also benefits from an PDO and allows the production of numerous wine products.

Garlic is also grown in the area, which is far from being anecdotal, particularly the white garlic of Lomagne (PGI), which accounts for about 11% of national production.

Crossed by three major rivers (Garonne, Tarn and Aveyron), as well as numerous tributaries (Barguelonne, Séoune, Gimone), not forgetting the famous Garonne canal, the department enjoys a soft climate that is ideal for farming.

Tarn-et-Garonne remains an agricultural department with a predominance of arboriculture. The department produces 80% of the fruit in Occitania and is the fourth largest French department for fruit trees. Of the 300,000 tonnes of fruit produced, apples account for the lion’s share with more than 2/3 of the department’s fruit production.

Our essentials

The Melon du Quercy

Benefiting from a PGI (Protected Geographical Indication), the Quercy Melon, a genuine fruit bursting with the sunshine of the south-west, is grown in the ancient province of Quercy during the summer.

The melon du Quercy is demanding. It needs sun, lots of sun like that of the north of the Tarn-et-Garonne. In these conditions it grows into an exceptional fruit.

Melon du Quercy is produced throughout the province of Quercy, from the north of Montauban to the south of Cahors, and from the gates of Agen to the Tarn.

The Chasselas de Moissac

This iconic Tarn-et-Garonne product is one of the jewels of French gastronomy and is known as “grain doré”, because of its round shape.

Each grap is chiselled, a goldsmith’s work often done by women, the chasselatières.

Indeed, the first fruit to be awarded the PDO in 1971, the Chasselas de Moissac is no longer just an exceptional table grape.
It is now available in fresh juice, carbonated juice, jams and alcoholic drinks.

Our others

Exceptionnal fruits

Apples

With 5,300 hectares devoted to its production, the apple is the emblem of our department, with Tarn-et-Garonne being the country’s leading apple producer.

50 shades of apples… Chantecler, Gala, Reinette, Arianne… all varieties of apples, old, rustic and new, are grown in our orchards, in integrated or organic farming. Some producers are happy to welcome customers directly to the farm, where everyone can pick their favourite apples with their own basket.

The Moissac cherry

This greedy treasure is one of the first red fruits of the summer season, sensual because of its roundness and its colour. It is the little queen of June, announcing the beautiful days and delighting young and old. The production of the Moissac cherry is concentrated in Moissac and the Terres des Confluences area.

All the cherries produced by 280 producers are hand-picked and sold the same day.

Strawberries :

Bright red, fleshy and delicate, the strawberries of Tarn-et-Garonne are the first delicacies of Spring. Gariguettes or Clery, Mara des bois, Ciflorette, Charlotte… there is something for everyone on the market stalls or sold directly from the farms.

Plums :

In Tarn-et-Garonne plums are real pearls in violet, purple or gold that colour the summer markets. The Reine Claude plum, the majestic one, is particularly juicy and sweet and takes its name from Claude de France, the first wife of François I. The ente plums are used to make the delicious Agen prunes.

Apricots:

This orange delight is like a gift from nature, to be enjoyed with a variety of desserts or on its own. Pincot, Feriana, Bebeco…its varieties sound like characters, the privilege of the most gourmand.

Peaches, nectarines :

Pêche de vigne, Fantasia… names that evoke greed in Tarn-et-Garonne. It is when you savour these sun-drenched fruits of the Midi that you realise the sweetness of life that reigns supreme in our land of water and orchards.

Kiwis:

The cherished child of producers, the kiwi is picked by hand but can only be eaten after 3 weeks, when it softens and becomes good to eat. Green, yellow or even red kiwis, these 3 types are grown in Tarn-et-Garonne.

Fruit peel

The Chestnut or Marron de Laguépie :

This chestnut has a beautiful bright mahogany colour and offers great gustatory qualities.

Roasted or boiled, it unfolds its flavours to warm up the autumn days in Tarn-et-Garonne, and is celebrated during the Chestnut Fair on the last Sunday in October in Laguépie.

Les Noisettes de Lomagne:

These little delicacies are very popular with the arrival of Autumn, and are celebrated at the Fête de la Noisette in Lavit-de-Lomagne at the beginning of October each year.

In Tarn-et-Garonne, the hazelnut brotherhood of Lomagne promotes this precious nut.

Other delights

The Vaïssac ceps :

The black-headed cep of Vaïssac is renowned for its pronounced flavours and aromas.

It flourishes in the woods and forests of this corner of Tarn-et-Garonne, between Quercy Vert and the Aveyron Gorges, where nature has reclaimed its rights.

The orchard of the South West