The Gaec de l'Ebes, in Saint-Étienne-du-Valdonnez, won two gold medals at the Lyon International Competition for its natural and lemon-flavored yogurts. A victory all the sweeter as it was his first participation.
First participation in the Lyon International Competition and already a success for the Ebes farm! Two of the yogurts (plain and lemon flavored) from the farm located in Saint-Étienne-du-Valdonnez have indeed won the highest distinction in the prestigious competition.
Processing, a solution to add value to milk
Lionel and Myriam Coulomb started processing their milk just over a year ago. “We were tired of our product being just considered a raw material and poorly valuedexplains Lionel Coulomb. We didn't like that the price was based on a world price.“Rather than cheese, the couple chose to make natural and flavored yogurts, dessert creams and fromage blanc, less common in Lozère.
The yogurts are sold in grocery stores and supermarkets in Lozère and Gard. The Ebes farm also supplies communities. At the same time, Gaec continues to deliver part of its milk to a group of producers. “It’s flexibility. We know that if we don't process our milk, it will still go away.“Today, they process a quarter of their production, or around 40,000 liters of milk per year. Ultimately, Myriam and Lionel would like to process half of it.
Two experienced breeders
Although the production of yogurt is very recent for Gaec, Lionel and Myriam Coulomb are not new to breeding. Lionel took over his uncle's farm in 1998. A true vocation. “I always wanted to be a farmer since I was little. My parents weren't, but I still bathed in it.“
Myriam was an accountant. She began joining her husband in 2007, first as a sideline, before creating Gaec seven years later. “Combining both was difficult“, admits Myriam. Despite all the difficulties of the profession, she does not regret her choice. “It's another way of living. For example, it allowed me to be available for the children at lunchtime. It has constraints but also advantages for family life.“
-A Gaec member of the Invitation to the farm network
The Ebes farm is part of the Invitation à la ferme network. Created almost ten years ago, the network aims to improve the income of organic milk producers by developing processing and local sales. The products are marketed under the Invitation à la ferme brand and resold within a radius of 80 km around the farm. The 43 member farms benefit from administrative and communication support. “A farm could never pay for all that.”underlines Corinne Charote, head of network communications. In return, farmers undertake to respect strict specifications: the animals must spend more than seven months in the meadows and their ration must consist of at least 70% grass.
In organic farming since 2021
Since 2021, the farm has been producing organically. A conversion which forced Lionel and Myriam Coulomb to change their habits. “When I sowed the temporary meadows, I mixed two or three different fodderexplains Lionel. Today, it's five or six so that they are complementary for the soil and for the cows.“Since then, the breeder claims that the health of his herd has improved, and with it his production.”The nutrition and health of the cows is what makes the product behind it.“
Despite their two gold medals, the couple of breeders do not want to rest on their achievements. “We will represent products next year, but we will not go into conquered territory.“
