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PGI — Midi-Pyrénées
The Quercy Charentais melon: deep orange flesh, intense and lingering sweetness, and the quintessential flavour of the finest French melons.
Vegetable from Midi-Pyrénées, PGI (IGP) since 2004.
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Quercy is a land of renowned culinary treasures — Chasselas de Moissac, Prune Reine-Claude, Truffe Noire, Safran du Quercy, foie gras, Coteaux du Quercy wines — and Melon du Quercy stands out as an emblematic summer product, grown here for nearly a century. Growers and fruit-packing stations across the area joined forces within the Syndicat interprofessionnel du Melon du Quercy to guarantee the fruit's quality and obtain official recognition for their production area. This collective initiative culminated in PGI recognition on 24 June 2004.
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The climate of Quercy combines cool, moist oceanic currents with hot, dry Mediterranean influences, producing temperature variations that are ideal for melon cultivation. The region's clay-limestone soils offer excellent water retention: the clay regulates the plant's water supply and releases the mineral nutrients needed for high-quality fruit. The average production area per holding is 2.70 hectares, predominantly within traditional, family-run farms.
As early as 1834, the commercial geography dictionary of France written by Briand de Verze already noted, regarding Tarn-et-Garonne, that 'very good fruits, melons, abound' — an early trace of the area's melon-growing heritage, long before the PGI sector was established. Even today, production is sustained by small family farms and supports an entire local economy, from the growers to the fruit-packing stations.
Appearance
Round, smooth, etched or netted rind, more or less pronounced furrows, green to grey in colour, turning vanilla-yellow at full maturity; minimum weight of 450 g.
Aroma
Well-developed fragrance, sustained and distinctive aromas; intense scent at full maturity.
Taste
Sweet, minimum refractometric index of 11° Brix, delicate honeyed notes, quintessential melon flavour.
Texture
Orange flesh, juicy, at once firm and melting.
the only family permitted by the PGI specifications, selected by the technical committee of the Syndicat interprofessionnel du Melon du Quercy for its agronomic and aromatic qualities.
several varieties from this family are grown alongside one another to spread harvests throughout the summer and ensure optimal ripeness.
staggered from March to June, to spread harvests throughout the summer.
manual, exclusively at peak ripeness, with each melon picked daily to guarantee its quality.
a maximum of six working days after harvest, minimum weight of 450 g, stalk length under 2 cm.
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Since: 2004
Area covered: Three departments: Lot, Lot-et-Garonne, Tarn-et-Garonne (communes in the area defined by the product specification)
Key requirements: Charentais-type variety, refractometric index ≥ 11° Brix, minimum weight 450 g, stalk < 2 cm, marketed within 6 working days of harvest, individual sticker, packaging within the geographical area
Packing station
Packing station
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The station is operated by Boyer SAS, which markets its fruit under the Philibon brand and describes itself as driven by "a passion passed on from the Boyer family to the growers involved", claiming 65 years of experience. Melons are its flagship product, alongside cherries, plums, grapes, Clémentine de Corse and exotic fruit.
At its Moissac site, operating from early July to mid-September, the company packs in particular Melon du Quercy PGI (IGP), within the framework of GlobalGAP, Haute Valeur Environnementale and Agriculture Biologique quality schemes.
| Address | 100 rue François Charmeux — Z.I. Borde-Rouge — 82200 Moissac |
| 05 63 04 15 64 | |
| philibon-moissac@wanadoo.fr | |
| philibon.com | |
| Visits | By appointment (groups) |
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Part of the production is certified organic, since 2017. |
