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 he
alluvial plain of Rosselló (Roussillon), defined by the
Tet, the Tec and the Aglí rivers which add an important
network of irrigation, and by the sunshine, strengthens the
competitive North Catalan agricultural industry. The source
of principal revenues for 60% of inhabitants in 1850, then affected
by the general decline in the second half of the 20th Century,
it has now stabilised. However, each year sees 1% of cultivated
lands lost to new housing developments and roads.
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barrels of Banyuls
exposed to the sun. |
Close
to 50% of agricultural areas are dedicated to grape-growing,
especially on the Roussillon plain and the foothills. The wine
production developed massively in the 19th Century and is today
geared towards an international market. It is composed of 30%
of Vins Doux Naturels, naturally sweet wines such as Banyuls,
Rivesaltes and Maury, which are of a quality exclusive to northern
Catalonia. The top 20%, the vins rouges d’appellation, the red
wines made under AOC guidelines, which guarantees a mark of
quality, are progressively adapting to French tastes. The northern
Catalan vins de table make up the remaining 50% of the wine
produced in the region. Fruit and vegetables, coming mostly
from the market-garden of the Roussillon plain, confirms northern
Catalonia in the ranks of the best produce regions: growing
to 70% of fruit production the northern Catalan peach is the
first in France. The Roussillon apricot is reaching 22% of global
production, then come the cherries – which remain an icon and
a tourist attraction. Opened in 1971 the imposing exportation
platform, Saint-Charles, installed in Perpinyà on 430
hectares ensures the delivery of North Catalan produce to northern
Europe. The movement towards a specific Catalan brand, which
illustrates the superior quality of products such as Vedell
català (Catalan veal), Huile d’olive Catalane (Catalan
olive oil) and Bea du Rousillon (the region’s potatoes), suggests
a new period. A period focused on combining the experience of
being of this region and the evolution of the markets.
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