The French prune industry is centred on the Lot et Garonne département in south-west France, where it is one of the most dynamic economic sectors.

The success story of the Agen prune is naturally due to the inherent qualities of the product, but also to the dynamism of those involved in the prune industry, who have set up their own professional body to enhance the reputation of their products.

The National Ente Plum and Prune Board defines an inter-professional agreement for each campaign year. This document sets out the terms of agreement between producers and handlers for the year's harvest, and is approved by government authorities. The French Prune Board (BIP) stems from this system, and was set up to maintain ongoing discussions between the various partners involved in the prune market and to rationalise methods of operation, while constantly supporting improvements in techniques and enhancing the image of prune products.