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Prune Industry
BIP
Growers
Handlers

[companies]

   
 
   

BIP - The French Prune Board

The BIP (Bureau interprofessionnel du pruneau) was set up in 1963 to run a sector which is organised into three "colleges" :
- growers
- private-sector handlers
- cooperatives

The BIP has four main centres of activity :

- Developing a professional ethic and managing contractual documents.
In particular, this involves ensuring compliance with the inter-professional campaign agreement, estimating the harvest and recording entries, exits and stocks.
- Official representation and negotiations with government bodies and the EU.
These activities include drawing up statistics, developing projects, and proposing regulations and action programmes for the sector.
- Promoting sales and the image of Agen prune products in France and abroad.
An essential task that includes consumer motivation surveys, distribution, implementing communication campaigns (marketing, advertising, press and public relations).
- Applied technical research and extension work.
The BIP's technical team provides assistance with research and selection, plant protection, plant physiology, orchard management and prune technology.
The BIP also runs a laboratory and employs specially qualified personnel who conduct analyses at all stages in prune production throughout the sector.