Mirabelle producers in Lorraine, where the harvest started this week, are expecting an “exceptional” season thanks to the favourable weather conditions that should allow production to double compared to last year.
“After three very difficult years, our 2014 harvest is starting well. Our trees have particularly juicy mirabelles, very yellow, with a good calibre,” explained Philippe Daniel, producer and President of the Lorraine Mirabelle Asscociation that regroups 250 arborists. Producers expect to harvest 10,000 tons, almost twice that of last year (when harvest was three weeks delayed due to weather).
Lorraine covers 80% of global production with over 1,000 ha, 3,000 employees and between 1,500-2,000 seasonal workers. About a quarter of mirabelle production from Lorraine is consumed as fresh fruit, the rest is processed into jam, sirop, cans, alcoholic drinks and frozen.
50,000 new mirabelle orchards are expected by 2018.
The start of the harvest in Lorraine was however affected by a scam on seasonal workers. In the Meuse, 40 or so Moroccans, recruited by a Moroccan, worked a full day without a contract only to be dropped by the recruiter in the middle of the night on Friday. “They don't have money, the situation is dramatic. Whilst waiting to find a solution, they are lodging in an open air base and benefiting from emergency food aid” explained the Mairie of Saint-Miniel, who are trying to find them employment with producers in the region.
