Naturgie: Specializes in the manufacture of jams and other products with an optimized GI. Organic food, Fair Trade, Eco-design.

The manufacturer

Naturgie has manufactured its jams, chutneys and savoury sauces for more than 10 years in Villeneuve-sur-Lot, in a manufacturing unit offering a unique know-how in the transformation of fruits. We have the best range of organic products. Our manufacturing unit (which was completely restructured and modernized in 2006) ensures the best standards of quality (quality label HACCP and Ecocert).


The jams, chutneys and savoury sauces are cooked by a process involving low-temperatures in order to conserve the maximum quality in aromas, flavours and natural fruit goodness. The recent award for “Innovation” at the SIAL 2008 Exhibition vouches for the high quality of the products.


01. Naturgie and its support for Fair Trade Programs

1. Naturgie and its support for Fair Trade Programs

  • 1.1 1. Agronomes et Vétérinaires sans frontières.

For more than 20 years, Agronomes et Vétérinaires sans frontières has been helping rural families from underprivileged areas take charge of their own development. Naturgie is participating in 60 projects in more than 20 countries; it is one of the first associations to encourage rural development in France. Its mission is centered on 3 main objectives:

    • The access and management of the world’s 3 main natural resources: water, land, forestry
    • The development of cattle farming and animal well-being
    • The transformation of farm products their packaging, and their access to international and local markets through Fair Trade.
  • 1.2 The NGO ROSA DOS VENTOS

In the south of the state of Bahia, there is a region partially covered with forest (Mata Atlantica) where the rural population faces a potentially disastrous situation. There are fewer jobs on the farms: the production of the cocoa bean has decreased greatly because of the cocoa tree disease (200,000 jobs lost in the whole region) and when one combines this factor with a very low level of education (in 1996 the illiteracy rate for adults was close to 60%) the situation is explosive. Whole villages have abandoned the countryside for the ‘favelas’ in search of work. Those who remain on the land live by a subsistence farming which is often prejudicial to the ecosystem (cassava cultivation, deforestation).

The NGO ROSA DOS VENTOS was created in 1999 by the French and the Brazilians in the region in order to find solutions to:

    • The economic and social development of the rural community by giving them the help they need: education and technical assistance
    • And to protect firstly: the fragile environment (the Atlantic forest now covers just 6% of its original surface) and secondly: the rich ecosystem (the area holds the record for biodiversity with more than 450 species per hectare)

The association created a country school which admits about 60 pupils, from 7 to 15 years old. The school offers an education spread over 4 grades. The children are given a daily meal and there is a very basic transport system which serves as a school bus service. In addition to school, the children take part in work-groups (capoeira, sewing, craft industry, computer science) and collective activities (cooking, gardening). The school also offers professional courses which aim at coaching some teenagers of the region in tourism-associated activities (30 pupils involved to date).

The association also carries out targeted activities in environmental education and agricultural assistance.

A new project is in progress with the help of local partners (University, tourist firms) to develop new and more profitable agricultural practices which have a positive impact on the environment: food crops, medicinal and cosmetic plants.

Biological cultivation will follow the program of reforestation in the damaged zones and in addition to this, a support operation is envisaged for the transformation and the commercialization of the produce. There are more than one hundred small independent producers who have already shown their interest and support and a part of the technical staff is in place. The association is now looking for funding to launch the project. The functioning of the association (local teams, equipment, transport and food) is ensured by private individuals with donations from companies such as NATURGIE. Rosa.dos.ventos@free.fr

02. Our projects

Naturgie reinforces its commitment to organic food values and to the respect of the environment: its’ conservation and protection. These commitments are symbolized in the introduction of the first Gourmet Organic and Eco-designed range of jams ( ref "Organic products").
 
 

03. Our Awards

2.1 PRIZE FOR THE BEST ORGANIC JAM 2007 awarded to Naturgie for its apricot organic no artificial sweetener (saccharose) fruit specialty (resulting in an inclusion in the Hachette Organic Products Guide)

2.2 PRIZE FOR INNOVATION at the SIAL 2006 Exhibition awarded to Naturgie for its Organic & Fair Trade jams.

2.3 GOLDEN PALM PRIZE at NATEXPO 2005 awarded to NATURGIE for its Organic & Fair Trade palm sugar.

2.4 PRIZE FOR INNOVATION at the SIAL 2008 Exhibition awarded to Naturgie for its’ G.I. product concept and for its Eco-friendly Fruits & Vegetables range