WFFC STUDY TOUR OF PROVENCE10 – 16 June 2007
This Study Tour was advertised as a trip of a lifetime and it certainly was for me. I can understand how we have certain natural raw materials from plants in our industry because they grow naturally all round Provence. We saw lots of Broom (Genet) and Valerian in flower on the mountain slopes, oak trees with moss (Oakmoss), and fields and fields of Lavender and Lavandin, Cyprus and Olive trees.
The tour began in Cannes and opened with a Welcoming Cocktail Reception at the hotel where we were staying. It was our opportunity to meet all the other tour participants. On the Monday morning we went in our tour coach to the two Robertet facilities in Grasse. In the afternoon we went to Cargill Flavour Systems in Grasse. Both facilities were very interesting, clean and organised for certification, heat recycled and waste water treated and lots of investment in equipment.
Tuesday morning we visited the village of Gourdon high on a mountain and then went to one of the two huge Mane facilities, La Serrèe, on the mountain in Le Bar-sur-Loup. We toured the fragrance and flavour factory. I was very impressed with the Mane facilities and the money invested in the factory.
Wednesday morning we visited L’Occitane in Manosque and had a very interesting presentation and factory tour. We spent time in the shop afterwards buying their natural products. We then went on to the pretty village of Moustiers-Ste-Marie and had an amazing Grand Chef Alain Ducasse lunch at the beautiful setting of ‘La Bastide de Moustier’. We drove to the Plateau de Valensole to see the famous lavender fields. The lavender was coming into flower but not yet in full bloom. This was a day of highlights.
Thursday morning we drove to Clos D’Aguzon in Saint Auban sur l’Ouvèze for a very interesting tour of their facility. We drove on to farm near the Biolandes facility for an outdoor lunch and presentation. Late afternoon we drove on to Marseilles. That night most of us went looking for the famous Bouillabaisse seafood dish in the local restaurants.
Friday morning we visited a Bandol Winery and then drove on to Nice. The tour ended with a Closing Banquet at the ‘Café des Arts’ in Nice.
The South of France looks a very appealing place to work! … but maybe that was because we had such wonderful weather, fabulous food and congenial company. The tour was very well organised through WFFC connections and I sense long lasting relationships have been formed between the tour members because we shared this memorable experience.
Leanne Capleton
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