Optimistic in the organization of the 47th edition of their annual competition, the Young Farmers of Gard have not forgotten the difficulties of the crisis facing the wine industry, and announce their return to the event from November 18.
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For the federation of Young Farmers of Gard (JA 30), the announcement of the launch of the annual Nîmes-Gard wine competition that they organize is always a cardinal event in the life of their union section, and indeed essential to its economic viability. The unveiling of the holding of the 47th edition on January 23, 2025 in Nîmes did not deviate from tradition, as the competition is a pillar of the economic balance of the union. The presentation of this new edition nevertheless takes on a particular flavor, with regard to the “difficult context that the wine industry is going through”quickly posed the president of the federation Romain Angelras, wine grower and cereal grower in Nîmes.
Alongside his vice-president Pierre Vidal, winegrower in Sabran, Romain Angelras also confirmed “the resumption of repeated actions which will crescendo” in the department from next Monday, November 18, while their counterparts in the Aude section begin their mobilization from November 14 by filtering foreign trucks at the Narbonne toll. No longer able to wait for concrete measures after the announcements of the previous government, the JA du Gard simply specifies that it will be the State and its representations which will be targeted “with responsible demonstrations without overflow”recalls Romain Angelras. “People are responsible but the anger is enormous, we feel it”continues the president of the JA 30 who cannot vouch for free electrons on the sidelines of the demonstrations.
You won't cash out until we cash out
Under the common national banner “you won’t cash in until we cash in”Gard unionists describe a very complicated situation for winegrowers and farmers in the department, in particular for young people and their financial fragility. “It’s an explosive cocktail where time advances, the cash flow from this new harvest has weakened and the costs are increasing”summarizes Romain Angelras. The regime of agricultural calamities is also in its sights with regard to the repetition of hazards and the specificities of an agricultural department from the Camargue marshes to the Cévennes mountains.
In this context, the union relies on the organization of its competition to maintain a positive and encouraging approach to the future. A competition which continues to attract despite the financial difficulties of the farms (700 to 800 samples entered each year, for around 200 medals). “Our competition remains one of the most affordable* and obtaining medals is a significant help for sales, particularly in a GD shelf and on bulk markets”validates the vice-president of JA 30 Pierre Vidal.
*: Registration form €40, +€20/sample (one free sample for ten registrants).
