Home » News » Short circuits, organic and social links in Nîmes: the Amaps advocate “consumm’action”

Short circuits, organic and social links in Nîmes: the Amaps advocate “consumm’action”

Nîmes has four Assos for the maintenance of peasant agriculture, including Croc’Amap.

Consuming local is virtuous. When it’s organic, if possible, it’s more so. The Associations for the Maintenance of Peasant Agriculture (Amap) go even further in supporting responsible producers.

By asking their members to pay in advance for, for example, fruit and vegetables that have not yet come out of the ground. You have to take a subscription, which we have set at one year, indicates Pascal Trarieux, member of the collegiate management of Croc’Amap, the Amap de Nîmes center created fifteen years ago. Thus, the producer’s harvest is paid to him before it is even planted.Very reassuring for him, in terms of cash flow.

Products harvested the same day

Consumers pay in advance, farmers, for their part, undertake (by contract) to provide the fruit of their production in accordance with the association’s charter, around three main principles: organic, proximity and support for ’employment. Products, often harvested the same day, which they bring themselves to the weekly distribution site, the CCI parking lot, in this case for Croc’Amap.

“Food is more than food, pleads Marité Ausset, another volunteer of the association (about forty members). In addition to helping small farmers, we create social ties. Distribution is a moment of conviviality and exchanges. Between members, who share recipes, and with the producers, who explain the harvests, the hazards… Two worlds meet, that of the city and that of the countryside. “

“Become a real consumer actor”

By opening up to ad hoc orders during the first confinement, Croc’Amap had recorded a real new influx. And then, as elsewhere for direct sales, the soufflé fell. “Too bad, regrets Pascal Trarieux. Because by agreeing to get involved, with their small vegetable purchasing budget, everyone can become a real consumer actor. “

Testimony of a market gardener: “Everyone is there”

Thomas Prunet, market gardener (over 3.5 ha) and arborist (2 ha) in Saint-Gervasy, has been working with Croc’Amap for two years. An important outlet which represents 30% of its sales for this organic farmer who also serves restaurants (in particular the two-star chef Kayser) or the canteen of the agricultural school in Rodilhan.

“Above all, Amap allows me to have cash in advance and to be less dependent on various hazards, he testifies. It is a model that works well for the support of small farmers, it would be necessary develop it. Even if I understand that committing in advance can be a barrier for some. ”

Every Wednesday, Thomas Prunet harvests seasonal fruits and vegetables to bring them himself to the place of distribution. “Short circuits and social ties, he lists. The approach is very positive: producers and consumers alike, everyone is there.”


Croc’Amap is relaunching a season of contracts with producers. Contact: 07 49 13 02 87. There are three other Amap in Nîmes: Pont d’Or, Castanet and Chemin de Russan. Info: avenir-bio.fr.

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