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PGI — Lorraine
A little golden sphere suspended in the orchards of Lorraine, the mirabelle encapsulates the light of August, 90% of world production, and several centuries of history dating back to the dukes of Lorraine.
Fruit from Lorraine, PGI (IGP) since 1994.
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The mirabelle is a variety of plum with distant origins: tradition has it that it was brought from the Caucasus to Provence by King René, before his grandson René II of Lorraine introduced it to his duchy. The first recorded mention dates back to 1568: during an official visit to Metz, King Charles IX and his mother Catherine de Médicis were reportedly presented with 'mirabelles preserved in sugar, a speciality of the Pays Messin'.
As early as the 17th century, the small yellow plum was considered the finest of Lorraine's plums. It was later the phylloxera crisis that gave it unprecedented momentum: the vineyards of Lorraine quickly gave way to mirabelle orchards, particularly in the Saintois, the Grand Couronné, the Coteaux Messins, and the Toulois. Production declined with the region's industrialisation, before being revived in 1990 by 250 Lorraine farmers who joined forces to revitalise the sector. The product achieved PGI (IGP) recognition in 1994; the 'Mirabelles de Lorraine' association, which manages the label today, was founded the following year.
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The region of Lorraine — the four departments of Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, Moselle, and Vosges — provides distinctive conditions for the mirabelle: the trees have adapted to clay-limestone soil (rich in magnesia and potash) and a cool climate, with temperatures generally below 25 °C and more than 800 mm of rainfall per year. The PGI area corresponds exactly to the territory of the four Lorraine departments, confirming the harmony between fruit and terroir. Two varieties — or rather two clone populations — are recognised by the specification: the Mirabelle de Nancy and the Mirabelle de Metz, registered since 1961 in the official catalogue of species and varieties.
The mirabelle is far more than a fruit: it is the unofficial emblem of Lorraine, alongside the cross of Lorraine. In Metz, the Fête de la Mirabelle has been held since 17 August 1947, on the initiative of Mayor Gabriel Hocquard and Moselle MP Raymond Mondon; initially biennial, it became an annual event from 1953 onwards. It is inseparable from the election of the Reine de la Mirabelle, whose first winner was chosen in 1949, and a water parade on the Moselle. Each season, the harvest brings together around 2,000 seasonal workers in the orchards of Lorraine.
Appearance
Small, round fruit, over 22 mm in diameter at maturity, firm and richly coloured, with a golden-yellow hue. The stone separates easily from the flesh (freestone).
Aroma
Delicate, light, and characteristic fragrance.
Taste
Very sweet — the PGI specification stipulates a minimum sugar level of 16 °Brix for dessert fruit (15 °Brix for processing) —, with juicy, sweet pulp.
Texture
Fine flesh, thin and almost taut skin, juicy pulp.
The PGI specification recognises two populations of orchard-grown clones, listed since 1961 in the official catalogue: the Mirabelle de Nancy and the Mirabelle de Metz. The fruit is sold fresh (whole with stone, whole stoned, or halved) or frozen — halves, jams, fruit in syrup, dried mirabelles, coulis, and pure fruit purées.
Orchard production follows a strict PGI specification: planting density below 400 trees per hectare, strictly clonal orchards, and a minimum surface area of 50 ares per orchard (or 20 ares if the plot adjoins another belonging to the same grower). Harvesting, carried out mechanically or by hand depending on the farm, spans a season of around six weeks; the time between picking and dispatch does not exceed three weeks. Around a quarter of the production is consumed as fresh fruit, with the remainder going for processing (frozen halves, jams, coulis, fruit in syrup) through the Vegafruits cooperative and its members. Since 2009, the specification has authorised the deep-freezing of the fruit, which enabled the installation of a freezing facility at Saint-Nicolas-de-Port and the year-round marketing of halves.
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Fresh mirabelles are best enjoyed plain, slightly chilled but not ice-cold, to appreciate their fragrance to the full. In pastry making, tarte aux mirabelles on an all-butter shortcrust pastry with a light almond cream is the region's hallmark creation. Mirabelles in syrup or candied mirabelles pair wonderfully with foie gras and soft cheeses. In jam, their low natural acidity often calls for an addition of lemon juice to balance the set.
Since: 1994
Area covered: Lorraine (54, 55, 57, 88)
Key requirements: Mirabelle de Nancy and Mirabelle de Metz varieties only; density < 400 trees/ha; sugar level ≥ 16 °Brix (dessert fruit)
Cooperative (Union of Agricultural Cooperatives)
Fruit cooperative
Fruit cooperative
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Request a listingCooperative (Union of Agricultural Cooperatives)
Vegafruits describes itself as a Lorraine fruit cooperative founded in 1991 through the merger of two cooperatives, Jardins de Lorraine and Vergers de Lorraine, with the aim of revitalising the Mirabelle de Lorraine sector — the region's emblematic fruit, holding PGI (IGP) status since 1995. While mirabelles remain its primary business, the cooperative also markets other fruits from its growers: Quetsche de Lorraine, Cerise Montmorency and myrtilles des Vosges.
The cooperative reports bringing together around 200 growers farming 600 hectares of orchards, yielding an annual production of around 8,000 tonnes of fruit, and employs 350 seasonal packing-station workers. In 2003, it invested in an IQF (Individual Quick Freezing) facility that stones and freezes fruit in under ten minutes at -25 °C to preserve its colour and flavour, followed in 2014 by a purée-processing unit supplying the food industry (nectars, ice creams, compotes, candied fruit). Since 2017, some of these purées have supplied its own brand of fruit pouches, Minute Fruitée — available in five flavours with no added sugar or flavourings, whose production equipment was partly funded through a crowdfunding campaign involving 70 growers and employees. It also cold-presses the kernels of its mirabelles and cherries to produce virgin oils designed for skin and hair care.
| Address | 60-62 Rue Charles Courtois, 54210 Saint-Nicolas-de-Port, France |
| 03 83 48 85 85 | |
| contact@vegafruits.fr | |
| vegafruits.fr | |
| Facebook page | |
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All production is certified organic, since 2010. |
