It was at the end of the 1980s that the Verhoef family planted their first apple trees in Foncoussières, just outside Rabastens. Today Bart, the father, can count on his son Tom to continue the adventure. Since 2011, they have opened a producer store. In addition to the fruits of their production, you can find meat, cheese and a whole range of processed products.
“We are in a sector with quite varied productions, it is a wealth, explains Tom. Our commercial system was limited so we tried to diversify it by selling directly to individuals”.
Tarn producers
To continue its development, the team did not choose to directly expand the farm and increase its size in Rabastens, but rather to open a new store in Toulouse as well as to plant and operate a new orchard. “The idea started with a fair with one of the city’s green space managers. They were planning to run the Domaine de Candie in the south-west of Toulouse. After some time, we answered a call projects that we have won” says Tom. Since then, his team planted the orchard in March 2021 and the building for the growers store is almost complete. “It took a lot of energy from everyone with many round trips between the 2 sites but it was worth it, there is real commercial potential” adds the producer. To stock the store, they called on Tarn producers and sourced their supplies locally. They are committed to the Toulouse metropolis for 25 years, the average lifespan of a commercial orchard.
