Laurent, Cévennes sweet onions producer

"I want to make sweet Cevennes onions because I feel good here."

A former blacksmith, Laurent has always known the sweet onion of the Cevennes. In 2002, he chose to set up as a sweet onion producer a few kilometers from Le Vigan, in a small commune of the Cevennes: Saint-André-de-Majencoules. He works on a surface of about two hectares. 

He grew up in this valley where this remarkable onion is produced. Its cultivation is the result of man's prowess, as the very steep relief of this region makes cultivation very difficult, as does the transport of water. It is thanks to the terraces (or faïsses in patois) made by man that agriculture can, on a small scale, develop. 

The sweet onions of the Cevennes come from the raïolette variety. All the production is done by hand. They are transplanted from the nursery to the fields in May. They are then harvested at the end of August and, if necessary, they are put in the dryer to store them.

He sells his onions at retail and transforms the downgraded onions, of irregular shape or damaged during the harvest, which are little revalued. In this way, he helps to reduce waste and produces tasty sweet onion condiments.