“Our businesses must adapt to the expectations of the new generation”

“Supporting and developing the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables” is the main mission of INTERFEL and we work every day to achieve this goal. This is an ambitious goal that requires the industry to continually rethink its approach as it grapples with a growing labor shortage that ultimately limits the development of French manufacturing. Faced with this situation, the Interfel Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Committee decided to address this problem directly, countering the lack of knowledge about careers in the industry, in particular by raising awareness among young people.

On 23 May, at the General Assembly, chaired by Jean-Hugues Belland (Chairman) and Jean-Louis Chapeyroux (Vice-Chairman), the Regional Committee presented the latest key data on production and consumption in the Nouveau Aquitaine region, followed by a discussion on the attractiveness of the professions in the industry and the skills and training requirements needed to promote the diversity of jobs available in the industry across the region.

Right: Jean-Hugues Belland

Creation of CAP Primeur for fruit and vegetables to improve training for professions related to the industry
“We realize that there is a lack of training in the industry and that the difference between profiles is huge,” comments Jean-Hugues Belland. “ Many people have a 5-year university degree, but there is very little training between high school and engineering level. Despite this, we really need two years of training after graduating from high school. We contacted Cap Métiers Nouvelle-Aquitaine and asked them to visit companies in the industry so that we could support them in implementing a training program that meets the companies’ expectations. For the entire industry, we have created videos presenting the specifics of job positions in the industry. Finally, we promote training courses, such as the CAP Primeur fruit and vegetable course, which is suitable for both producers and wholesalers. This is a course aimed at a higher level, not just commercial, as has been the case so far.

Raising awareness among young people
These initiatives are accompanied by increased communication and awareness-raising in secondary schools: “It often turns out that high-tech professions are the most well-known and promoted. Little is said about the industries that make up our industry. Therefore, there is a huge need to raise awareness among young people. Until now, our industry has operated with inbreeding, where the children of manufacturers and retailers take over the business when their parents retire, a generation that is no longer interested in taking over. Our businesses are perceived as extremely difficult in terms of seasonality and working hours, with few guarantees. And the situation is getting worse with climate change. Our task is to expand horizons and adapt to the expectations of the next generation.

Development of robotization and automation of tasks
According to the President of Interfel Nouvelle Aquitaine, restoring the image of professions in this industry is entirely possible if we adapt to the expectations of the new generation: “We are actively cooperating with CTIFL on the automation of tasks. harvesting and processing goods in upstream warehouses in this sector can provide real comfort for our young people. At the same time, we want to work more closely with organizations such as SAFER, to help young producers set up their businesses, commercially we have to reorganize our work, which is not easy because it is easier to transport goods at night so that consumers can receive them first thing in the morning. These are all changes we didn’t realize we needed to make, but they are now becoming necessary to attract young people to our professions.”

Some sectors and areas are affected more than others
Although all sectors of the industry are facing labor shortages, it is the mining sectors that are most affected, particularly in the fruit sector and in remote areas: “Field crops, which are already partially industrialized, suffer from this problem, but to a lesser extent than fruit farming , where some farmers have the financial resources and land to expand but cannot because it is too difficult for them to take on new staff. Furthermore, there are two different dynamics affecting different geographical areas: on the Atlantic coast there is less concern about corporate takeovers than in more rural departments. Young people want to be close to main roads. It’s easier to be a fruit grower 80 km from Bordeaux than from Limoges.

Greater interest in the industry since the Covid crisis
The problem of labor shortages, which have been present for many years, has worsened since the Covid-19 crisis, but this has led to a real awakening: “Until 2020, start-up aid in our region was mainly focused on the aviation industry and However, the crisis related to Covid-19 has highlighted the crucial importance of the agricultural sector, which is essential to feeding the population. Since then, political authorities have become much more open to the issue and real awareness is emerging.

Latest key figures for the fresh fruit and vegetable sector in New Aquitaine
At the regional level, an average of 830,000 tons of fresh fruit and vegetables are harvested each year. Nationally, Nouvelle-Aquitaine is a leading producer of asparagus, carrots, strawberries, kiwi and hazelnuts. It ranks second in terms of production of tomatoes, eggplants, raspberries, walnuts and chestnuts. It ranks third in the production of melon, squash, squash, squash and plums.

In terms of consumption, households in the region buy on average 158 kg of fresh fruit and vegetables per year, with an average budget of €403. The vast majority of these purchases (73%) are made in supermarkets.

The New Aquitaine sector currently represents 5,157 enterprises (excluding general supermarkets and catering establishments) and 24,160 full-time equivalent jobs (FTE), many of which are seasonal. It has an established position throughout the region and generates sales of EUR 3.6 billion, including EUR 1.6 billion at the consumer level.

For more information;
Julia Badets
(email protected)
www.juliarp.com