Figue de Solliès

The Syndicat de Défense de la Figue de Solliès presents itself as the body uniting the vast majority of fruit growers in the production basin, and as the sole, privileged point of contact with the Ministry of Agriculture for the appellation. It is established as an association under the 1901 law (or equivalent), based in Solliès-Pont, in the Var. Its stated mission rests on four pillars: extending and developing the appellation, through personalised technical support for every participating fruit grower; promoting Figue de Solliès among professionals and the general public; an environmental dimension, with the implementation of alternative practices and agri-environmental measures in orchard management; and ongoing experimentation and pest-control efforts against emerging pests.

The syndicate estimates the industry at around one hundred fruit growers, tending roughly 35,000 fig trees by hand across 140 hectares of pedestrian orchards, yielding approximately 1,500 tonnes harvested each year across the 15 communes of the appellation area — accounting, according to the syndicate, for two-thirds of French fig production.

The Confrérie de la Figue de Solliès is an association under the 1901 Act registered in Solliès-Pont on 4 September 1998. Its aim is to promote, through its travels across France and abroad, the emblematic fruit of the appellation's geographical area as well as the know-how of its producers, thereby helping to raise the profile of the communes in the Bourjassotte Noire production basin.

Each year, the brotherhood's chapter brings together in Solliès-Pont delegations from some forty gastronomic brotherhoods from across France, who thus return the visits paid by the brotherhood throughout the year to their respective regions — ‘thus worthily representing [the] brotherhood, [the] town and [the] figue de Solliès’.

The successor to a family of farmers, Patrick Blancon grows Figue de Solliès on his farm in Solliès-Pont, in the Var — the only French fig with PDO (AOP) status. Established in the Gapeau valley, an alluvial land with a distinctive terroir, he sells his fruit directly to private customers as well as professionals, particularly restaurateurs. At his sales outlet, he also offers olive oil, local honey and fruit juices.

His figs also yield processed products — jams, syrups and vinegars — marketed under the brand Soléa, le goût du Sud. From late August to mid-October, the farm partners with tours organised by 'Sentiers & Cépages', which showcase the combined expertise of fig-growing and wine-making in the Gapeau valley during a half-day visit. Patrick Blancon rounds off his business with olive production, pressed into oil at the moulin de Belgentier.

Located in the L'Ayguade district of Hyères, Domaine du Moulin is a family-run market gardening and fruit farm, established by the grandfather of current co-manager Valentine Simondi and developed by her father Bernard, who launched direct sales in 1988 before forming the commercial company in 1992. Across its 22 hectares of open fields and unheated greenhouses, the family cultivates no fewer than 130 varieties spanning 39 species of fruit and vegetables, half of which are farmed organically — the entire harvest is sold directly on site, in the shop open daily from 8:00 to 20:00.

The estate lies within the geographical area of the Figue de Solliès PDO (AOP) and cultivates one hectare of purple figs under this designation each year, borne by 60-year-old fig trees visible from the farm shop. Alongside the figs grow strawberries, melons, watermelons and raspberries, as well as revived heritage vegetable varieties such as the poivron sucette de Hyères or the tomate de Callas; a range of processed products — ratatouilles, soups, jams — is prepared nearby in Solliès, exclusively from the farm's own fruit and vegetables. Its Solliès PDO extra fig jam earned Domaine du Moulin a Silver Medal at the Concours Général Agricole 2026.

Fabre Diffusion is a simplified joint-stock company founded on 29 June 1993 by Didier Fabre, headquartered at 2555 chemin de Sauvebonne, in Solliès-Pont, in the Var — at the heart of the basin that gives its name to the Figue de Solliès. Its corporate purpose covers the purchase, import, sale and export, wholesale, semi-wholesale and retail, of agricultural, food and horticultural products, as well as the production and sale of fruit and vegetables: a trading and distribution house rather than a farm open to visitors.

The company is among the local partners and businesses supporting the Fête de la Figue, the annual Solliès-Pont event dedicated to the Figue de Solliès.