Foire de la Pomme et de l'Oignon doux attendance drops slightly

The 32nd Foire de la Pomme et de l'Oignon doux des Cévennes saw a slightly reduced crowd, with the Origine Cévennes cooperative selling out of onions by 3:30 p.m. at both its quay entrance stand and the drive-in at the city entrance. The famous onion pyramid had already been dismantled by that time, with the last boxes quickly exchanged. Attendees were advised to visit the cooperative a few kilometers away for the event's main attraction.

Local officials meet during the event

The new sous-prefect of Vigan, Christine Portero Espert, received a visit from the new prefect of the Gard, Fabienne Decottignies, during the aperitif hour, alongside professionals, cooperative representatives, and local officials including mayor Sylvie Arnal of Vigan, Régis Bayle, president of the Vigan area, and others.

Drought emergency plans discussed

Emergency solutions for potential drought were discussed during a meeting at the Vigan sous-prefecture, where requests for hillside water reserves are progressing. After a feasibility study, producers now need to provide a "maturity study," but these reserves will not be available for several years.

Flexible water reserves proposed

Gaël Martin, president of the AOP Oignons doux des Cévennes, expressed satisfaction with the meeting, noting that Christine Portero Espert aims to implement urgent actions using flexible water reserves in bags, similar to those used in forests and industrial sites for firefighting. Christine Portero Espert, who previously worked on water resource issues in the Pyrénées-Orientales, emphasized the need for short-term solutions and measures to optimize irrigation, while acknowledging that more structured storages are a long-term project.

Chestnut production suffers major losses

Nadia Vidal, a chestnut producer around Collet-de-Dèze and president of the AOP Châtaigne des Cévennes, reported a severe loss of about 60% in chestnut production due to drought and heatwave, with fruits falling late and trees shedding fruits to survive. She warned that next year could be disastrous for orchards, as trees grafted this year may not survive.

Wild boars add to chestnut growers' challenges

Added to this, wild boars caused significant predation, turning nets upside down to access chestnuts. Jean-Luc Vidal, Nadia's husband, noted that hunting restrictions prevent shooting wild boars at night in orchards.

Irrigation efforts and protective measures

Jean-Philippe Guibal, an apple and walnut producer in Saint-Julien-de-la-Nef, managed to irrigate his Reinette du Vigan apples and walnuts using 70 m3 of water per day, though he emphasized the need for caution due to the heat. He also used a reflective talc to protect apple trees and hail nets to protect part of his orchard. He advocated for small dams on the Hérault river to secure irrigation water, despite the Water Act's restrictions.

First-time visitors praise the festival

Sylvie and Françoise, sisters from Alès, attended their first Foire de la Pomme et de l'Oignon doux des Cévennes, appreciating the quality of local products and the event's authenticity. They noted that while sweet onions are available in supermarkets, they prefer the festival experience.