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Prune Industry
BIP
Growers
Handlers

[companies]

   
 
   
Handlers
Thirty-three handling organisations are involved in the Agen prune trade.
Their organisations are of three types :
- cooperatives, which handle 44 % of the annual harvest
- private-sector companies, handling 55 % of the harvest
- growers, who handle 1 % of the harvest

Over 20 000 people (growers, farm workers, employees in cooperatives and handling companies) work for the prune industry, producing a total of some 50 000 tonnes per year.
Agen prune sales
Average sales over the last three years amount to 50000 tonnes annually, including about 30000 tonnes in France (60%) and 20000 tonnes for export (40%), mainly within Europe.
Sales trends since 1950

Over the thirty-odd years since 1963, when no more than 10000 tonnes of prunes were marketed, there has been a fivefold increase in prune sales (domestic and export markets).
This remarkable increase can of course be partly explained by the inherent qualities of the Agen prune, but is also due to the dynamic market development work carried out throughout the chain of production by the professional body which was created in 1963 to enhance the reputation of prune products through ongoing communication campaigns.