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AOC — PDO — Limousin
“The Pomme du Limousin is the fruit of the Massif central tamed by man, poised between altitude and autumn light.”
Fruit from Limousin, PDO (AOP) since 2007.
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Pomme du Limousin is the story of a meeting between an American fruit and an exceptional French terroir. It was in the 1950s that Golden Delicious first took root in Limousin. Limousin horticulturists soon discovered that this variety thrived remarkably well at altitude — between 300 metres, the minimum threshold, and 500 metres, the physiological limit for apple trees in Limousin — on the plateaux of the Massif central, on crystalline bedrock soils (metamorphic or granitic rock). The alternation of cool nights and warm, sunny late-summer days fosters the development of sugar, acidity and the pink blush on the skin of Limousin apples.
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The first commercial orchards were established around Brive-la-Gaillarde, which gradually became the capital of the French apple. In 2004, the designation of origin was recognised — a first in France for an apple. It became a PDO in 2007. Today, the PDO area — 101 communes spread across Corrèze, Creuse, Dordogne and Haute-Vienne — has around 150 apple growers, cultivating 1,600 hectares of orchards for an annual production of around 70,000 tonnes.
Harvesting must be done by hand to preserve the quality of the fruit and allow sorting right from harvest. Yield is capped at 58 tonnes per hectare per parcel, with a holding average that must not exceed 70 tonnes per hectare. Harvested over approximately one month, from 15 September to 10 October, the apples must strictly be kept cold from harvest; from 15 December, any packaged fruit must come from controlled-atmosphere storage rooms. Sales under the appellation thus extend until 1 June, 1 July or 1 August depending on the colouration of the fruit.
Appearance
Slightly elongated shape, well-defined eye and eye basin; whitish-green to yellow colouration, which may show a pink blush; minimum size of 65 mm or 115 g
Aroma
Gentle fruity aroma, subtle floral fragrance
Taste
Balanced flavour between sweetness and acidity; minimum refractometric index of 12.5° Brix, minimum acidity of 3.7 g/l of malic acid
Texture
Firm, white flesh, crisp, juicy and non-mealy texture
mandatory, from approximately 15 September to 10 October
each fruit inspected individually; sorted by size and colouration
kept cold from harvest, in controlled-atmosphere rooms from 15 December for packaged fruit
mandatory individual labelling, no bulk shipments
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Pomme du Limousin is a natural partner for classic French desserts: tarte Tatin with apples caramelised in semi-salted butter, clafoutis, cream tarts. It can be pan-fried with cinnamon for autumn breakfasts, or turned into compote or coulis. In savoury dishes, it pairs beautifully with sausages, braised pork and foie gras. Pressed for fresh juice or farmhouse cider. Raw, it is served in a winter fruit salad with honey and noix de Grenoble.
Since: 2004
Area covered: Demarcated area: 101 communes in Corrèze, Creuse, Dordogne, Haute-Vienne
Since: 2007
Area covered: Demarcated area: 101 communes in Corrèze, Creuse, Dordogne, Haute-Vienne
Key requirements: Mandatory hand-picking; yield ≤ 58 t/ha per parcel, ≤ 70 t/ha holding average; Golden Delicious variety exclusively (authorised mutants excluding Cala Golden); no post-harvest phytosanitary treatments; individual fruit traceability
Brotherhood
Cooperative
Cooperative
SICA (packing station)
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Request a listingCooperative
Cooplim presents itself as the fruit-growing cooperative of the Limousin, established since 1974 in Vars-sur-Roseix, in Corrèze, at the heart of the terroir of PDO (AOP) Pomme du Limousin, between Corrèze, Dordogne and Haute-Vienne. It unites nearly 80 member apple growers farming 650 hectares of orchards, 10% of which are managed organically, and employs 110 staff. The cooperative specialises in the storage, sorting and packing of apples — mainly high-altitude Golden, but also the Evelina, Canada and Opal varieties — and holds 8 quality and certification labels.
The packing facility has 88 controlled-atmosphere cold stores, providing a storage capacity of 54,000 tonnes, and can grade up to 140 tonnes of apples a day.
| Address | 6 La Ribière de la Reille, 19130 Vars-sur-Roseix, France |
| 05 55 25 00 01 | |
| contact@cooplim.com | |
| cooplim.com | |
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All production is certified organic, since 2017. |
Cooperative
Perlim describes itself as an apple orchard operator and apple distributor in France and Europe. It also grows walnuts. It markets several varieties under its own brands — Evelina®, Rubis Gold®, Dolce-vita®, Opal® Bio, and Mandy® Bio — alongside the Pomme du Limousin.
| Address | 199 Rte de la Coopérative, 19130 Saint-Aulaire, France |
| 05 55 25 94 00 | |
| perlim.com | |
| Visits | No — industrial site |
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All production is certified organic, since 2011. |
SICA (packing station)
Meylim presents itself as the packing station born out of the Domaine de la Meynie in Limousin — the estate that gave the company its name. The website traces the history of the holding: the first apple trees planted in Limousin in the 1950s at the instigation of Guy Chauffaille, then in 1958 the decision, made with fruit grower André Michon, to introduce the Golden variety by planting 100 hectares on the Domaine de la Meynie.
Golden du Limousin obtained its PDO (AOP) in 2004. The company is incorporated under the name SICA Meylim (société d'intérêt collectif agricole).
| Address | La Meynie, 24270 Sarlande, France |
| +33 5 53 62 21 40 | |
| meylim.fr | |
| Visits | By appointment |
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Part of the production is certified organic, since 2013. |
