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their activity and to extend
the range of outlets for their
products. This programme
also helps create social
links, as the social grocery
store staff go directly to the
farms to collect the
produce. Meanwhile, the
beneficiaries get to
rediscover just howgood
the fresh eggs, fruit and
vegetables sold in our
grocery stores can taste.
Andwe also arrange visits
to the farms! The
beneficiaries feel good
about themselves, as they
realise the positive impact
of this project on local
producers. They realise that
peoplewho are receiving
aid can also give aid
themselves. 103 farmers
are already involved in the
programme, which is
currently running in three
regions of France (Poitou-
Charentes, Aquitaine, and
Midi-Pyrénées), and soon
to start in a fourth, Brittany.”
(1)
Association Nationale de
Développement des Épiceries Solidaires
(National association for the development
of social groceries). Uniting 280 social
grocery stores under a common umbrella,
this association promotes food aid, helps
combat exclusion and facilitates the
return to work.
(2) Where products are sold 10%-30%
of their usual price to beneficiaries
recommended by the social services.
FOSTERING
CLOSER
LINKS
WITHIN THE
NETWORK
OF SOCIAL
GROCERIES.
“The ‘
UNITERRES’
programme arose as a
result of a dual observation:
our social groceries
(2)
seldomhad enough fresh
produce, while, at the same
time, many farmers were
suffering fromfinancial
hardships. The project
involved setting up a
systemof co-operation
between food aid
structures and local
farmers, using short supply
chains to deliver high
quality seasonal produce
to our beneficiaries.
To optimise these flows,
the stores pre-order the
fruit and vegetables that
they need. These orders
are then shared out
between the various
farmers.
Our partnership acts as
a springboard: it enables
the producers to publicise
ISSUES CONCERNING FOOD
“Our aim is to
improve the diet
of vulnerable families
and to offer farmers
experiencing
hardships the
means and the time
tomake their
farms sustainable.”
UNITERRES
The Carrefour
Foundation has been
a partner of
A.N.D.E.S.
since 2006. In 2014,
its support for the
“
UNITERRES”
programme enabled
actions to continue to
foster local,
sustainable farming,
while facilitating the
regular supply of fresh
produce to the social
groceries, directly
from the producer, as
well as helping local
farmers to identify
newmarkets. It also
enabled the
programme to be
extended to Brittany
and the Pays de la
Loire region.
Interview with
Véronique Blanchot
Director of the
UNITERRES
programme (
A.N.D.E.S.
(1)
)
FRANCE