White peaches around the world:
Crops, varieties and production
At Les vergers Boiron, our frozen and ambient fruit purées are made from Bellerime peaches. The white peach, renowned for its sweetness and juicy flesh, is one of the flagship varieties in our range. With its sweetness and melt-in-the-mouth texture, the white peach lends itself to a multitude of delicious and creative uses, whether in baking, pastry-making, or mixology for cocktails or mocktails.
Fishing around the world: a universal fruit
Peaches are widely cultivated, with more than 300 varieties recorded in France. This fruit is one of the most popular in global agriculture. In 2023, China consolidated its position as the world leader in terms of production, with a harvest of over 14 million tonnes of peaches. Although France is a major player in peach production, it ranks only fifteenth in the world, producing around 200,000 tonnes each year.
Peach production in France: regional expertise
At Les vergers Boiron, our white peaches are mainly sourced from three main regions, each offering ideal conditions for their cultivation. These production areas are as follows:
- Roussillon/Gard: 54%
- Rhône Valley: 11%
- Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA): 29%
The Bellerime variety, an exceptional white peach, is grown in the Rhône Valley and Gard.
The peach tree: a demanding tree
The peach tree is a delicate tree. It requires specific climatic conditions to grow optimally. It needs plenty of sunshine and warmth, but it is sensitive to excessively high temperatures and cannot tolerate days above 35°C. Good air circulation is also essential to limit humidity and prevent fungal diseases. During its dormant period, the peach tree needs cold winter temperatures to eliminate pests and stimulate growth. Finally, regular pruning of the tree, particularly in a double Y shape, is necessary to promote optimal aeration and focus the peach tree’s energy on fruit production.
In orchards, pheromone disruptors are used to repel harmful insects, thereby reducing the need for chemical treatments. The productivity of peach trees varies according to their age: they begin to produce after three years, with a yield of 8 tonnes per hectare, reaching up to 35-40 tonnes per hectare from the fifth year onwards. However, from the fifteenth year onwards, their productivity begins to decline.
The growth cycle of ice fishing
White peach cultivation follows a specific cycle, marked by several key stages:
- Flowering (mid-March to mid-April): Flowering is a crucial phase when the peach tree’s blossoms begin to bloom.
- Fruit growth (mid-April to August): During this period, the fruit develops and reaches its optimal size.
- Harvest (August to September): White peaches are harvested when the fruit is well coloured and slightly soft at the stalk. It should also come away from the tree easily.
Harvesting peaches is a meticulous task, carried out manually to preserve the quality of the fruit. In general, harvesting is done in 3 to 4 passes, spaced 3 to 4 days apart, in order to harvest the fruit at the peak of ripeness.
Production techniques: a sustainable investment
Les vergers Boiron, concerned about the quality of their peaches, invests in the selection and improvement of its orchards. Since 2015, investments have been made to finance the purchase of high-quality plant material, modern irrigation systems and hail nets to protect the fruit from bad weather. In 2020, a second investment further strengthened these agricultural practices and ensured the sustainability of production.
White peaches are prized for their sweetness and melt-in-the-mouth texture. Thanks to rigorous farming practices and careful selection of varieties, Les vergers Boiron develops high-quality frozen and ambient fruit purées. Grown in optimal regions such as Roussillon, the Rhône Valley and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, our peaches benefit from the best conditions to guarantee unrivalled flavour and ideal texture. White peaches remain a prized fruit, which we use to offer delicious, natural products to consumers around the world.