Florian and Marie-Laure have converted to blueberry production

See my news
Follow Pontivy Journal

It’s a mature, thoughtful family project! The story of a couple who left their old life to practice their respective parents’ profession: farmer.

Florian Gueguen and Marie-Laure Bodergat are newcomers to the profession, based in Saint-Aignan, in Morbihan. But they didn’t jump in headlong.

“We no longer wanted to depend on an employer”

One is a technical salesman in industrial supplies, the other is an executive assistant in a social center.

“In our respective jobs, things were no longer going well. Without consulting each other, we each carried out a skills assessment,” says Marie-Laure. “We no longer wanted to depend on an employer. We wanted to find common sense in our work,” adds Florian who is then on the verge of burnout.

Son and daughter of farmers (Florian’s father and both Marie-Laure’s parents), their passion for plants brought them together professionally.

Thus, everyone takes a diploma: Florian a BP landscaping at the Kerplouz agricultural high school in Auray, Marie-Laure a BP agricultural company manager at the CFFPA du Gros-Chêne in Pontivy.

Find the location

To be able to realize their dream, the couple must move. “In Kervignac, in the south of Morbihan, it was not ideal, both for the landscapes we wanted to have, and the price of land. And it’s not an easy task to find a lot of land. It is difficult to find an ad. We often only find small pieces of land,” says the entrepreneur. Finally, the duo has a stroke of luck!

We visited a three-hectare farm that we spotted on Le Bon Coin in November 2021. And it turned out that three other hectares were for sale. So, we took the plunge!

The family, the couple and their two children, arrive on the road between Cléguérec and Saint-Aignanat 2, Bot Pléven, in August 2022. Florian launches the activity, supported by his partner, until his status as operator is official two years later.

A project that matures

They are dedicated to blueberry cultivation. A project matured for three years. “We were supported in particular by the association of blueberry producers in France. We attended general meetings, we visited farms whether in Lozère or in the Landes. What’s more, during the period when I was unemployed, I did a lot of research, particularly on the prices to be applied. We also carried out a soil analysis to confirm that the land was suitable for the desired type of crop,” says the producer.

Marie-Laure adds: “During my training (2021-2022), our management professor, Francette (Bilcot), helped me establish the forecast: the investments to be planned, the necessary equipment, the number of blueberry plants , etc. We presented it to the bank afterwards. »

Knowing that the duo is supported in their efforts by lawyers from the Chamber of Agriculture (status, legal information). What’s more, with the newly acquired status of Marie-Laure’s operator, he has just obtained the DJA (Young Farmers Grant for those under 40), a subsidy of €22,000.

Progressive returns

If the cultivation of shrub blueberries is “very technical and specific”, it is only at the start of the activity that the couple needs to work the land.

Since then, it has mainly been the maintenance of 127 rows of 5,400 plants (eight different varieties) which is very important.

This year, we were only able to harvest 20% of what we estimated due to a lack of pollination. But above all we are in the testing phase where we are observing the reaction of our customers. Our returns will be progressive.

For the moment, the two producers have sold their blueberries in large and medium-sized supermarkets, Biocoop (Pontivy, Loudéac and Baud) as well as in the Guerlédan and Bon-Repos-en-Blavet markets. “We sold everything. Currently, we are dedicated to maintaining the orchard. Pruning will take place in January and cultivation in July, when it is warm. »

“I can no longer count the number of days until the next vacation”

From now on, it is a happy and busy Florian that we find in 2024: “Today, we manage our schedule. It all depends on the weather. Sometimes we have big days. But I no longer even question whether I should work on weekends or not. Before, I would have moaned! I was going to work backwards… Now, I can no longer count the number of days until the next vacation. »

The two courageous people are sometimes even supported by other farmers, even if they are not specialists.

Even when we don’t ask, our neighbors are always ready to lend a hand. They clearly saw that we are workers.

There is no particular role for each person within the family business. “We try to be autonomous in all the work to be carried out. If one is sick, the other can keep the farm running. And being versatile cuts working time in half. »

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon Actu.