The French love their vegetable garden

The French are more and more fond of greenery! By leisure or passion, they are nearly 42% of the population to declare owning a vegetable garden and, or fruit trees, according to a CSA survey for the UPJ. More than ever, the garden is trendy!

This little piece of nature … A square of land, a garden, a piece of land: nearly 25 million French people have a passion for their vegetable garden or orchard according to a survey by the CSA institute for the Union des entreprises for the protection of gardens and green spaces (UPJ – bringing together around thirty manufacturers of products for amateur and professional gardeners). And when they don’t have one, they dream of it! 35% of respondents want to get started and 13% admit to growing their vegetables or aromatic herbs on their terrace or even their balcony. Tomatoes, salads and potatoes are the top 3 vegetables grown in France, even if some regional disparities appear. Thus, in the Paris basin, salads in the east and potatoes in the west are preferred by these amateur growers, while green beans predominate in the east region and carrots in the south-east. For fruits, cherries and apple trees take the lead! Synonymous with a moment of relaxation, alone, as a couple or with the family, the vegetable garden is also an ideal place of learning for children, who discover respect for nature and the cycles of life, for 93% of those questioned. We devote up to half a day per week (for two garden / orchard owners out of three) or at least two hours per week (for 35% of them). Environmental concerns being just as fashionable as a return to nature, amateur gardeners are very concerned about the environment. Almost one in two sets up bird perches, while seven in ten collect, or are ready to do, rainwater. Passion, pastime, this activity is also a means of subsistence: 91% of those questioned thus have more confidence in the fruits and vegetables that they produce themselves than in those of the trade in terms of taste and 79% in terms of Food Safety ! To discover some images of the survey, click on next, and press the zoom function to see the tables …

Survey conducted by the CSA institute for the UPJ, on May 9 and 10, 2007, with a representative sample of the French population made up of 1007 people.

More info on www.upj-asso.org