French snail farmers slugged by COVID-19

Photos

Login / Sign Up

Friday, September 17, 2021

Gold / Forex

French snail farmers slugged by COVID-19

France's 'escargot' heartland of Bourgogne are battling to stay afloat

Published: February 26, 2021 09:42 AFP and Compiled by Christian Borbon, Senior Web Editor

1 of 10

Copy of 598070-01-02-1614317067800 — Successive COVID-19 lockdowns may have given people in France, as elsewhere, a newfound taste for home cooking, but one delicacy has yet to worm its way back onto the nation's plates: snails. Image Credit: AFP

2 of 10

Copy of 598069-01-02-1614317070944 — With the country's restaurants closed since the start of a second lockdown on October 30, producers in France's "escargot" heartland of Bourgogne are battling to stay afloat. Image Credit: AFP

3 of 10

Copy of 598066-01-02-1614317073995 — Snails cooked in garlic butter is a classic of French cuisine that has long inspired a mix of fascination and horror among tourists, particularly Britons who recoil at the idea of eating the molluscs. Image Credit: AFP

4 of 10

Copy of 598082-01-02-1614317077136 — While few French people buy snails on a regular basis - they are generally rolled out during parties or the holiday season - they still regularly feature on restaurant menus. Image Credit: AFP

5 of 10

Copy of 598079-01-02-1614317083272 — But with restaurants looking set to remain shuttered for several more weeks as France battles to bring down stubbornly high COVID-19 infections, snail farmers fear for their future. Image Credit: AFP

6 of 10

Copy of 598081-01-02-1614317080117 — "In 2020, my sales were down by 33 percent more than forecast," producer Herve Menelot told AFP, adding that he did not pay himself a wage from June to October 2020 and was living off his savings. Image Credit: AFP

7 of 10

Copy of 598076-01-02-1614317089008 — "This year is the same. I have no (trade) show coming up, no farmers' market, no restaurants. We're not very optimistic, Menelot said, adding that he feared he may have to wind down his business. Image Credit: AFP

8 of 10

Copy of 598078-01-02-1614317086088 — Olivier Dard, another producer, told AFP his turnover had halved in 2020. Dard was forced to take a job with the local council to supplement the family's income. Image Credit: AFP

9 of 10

Copy of 598072-01-02-1614317095245 — The French snail industry is made up of hundreds of small farmers who have been struggling to compete with cheaper imports from Eastern Europe. Image Credit: AFP

10 of 10

Copy of 598073-01-02-1614317091922 — Only 5 percent of the 30,000 tonnes of snails consumed every year in France - a protected species that cannot be scooped up off a path and sold - are French. Snail farmers have received small amounts of aid from the state but say it is not enough to offset their losses. Image Credit: AFP

Latest In

‘Hasal’ teams up actor Sanjay Mishra, Ranvir Shorey

6 minutes ago
Bayern Munich winger Coman undergoes heart surgery

15 minutes ago
IPL: Nortje wants to do a 2020 encore in the UAE

20 minutes ago
Dubai Metro: Improvements at three stations on course

27 minutes ago
UAE champions equal pay for both genders

34 minutes ago

This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized service to you. Both on your website and other media. To find out more about the cookies and data we use, please check out our Privacy Policy.

Photos News

Trending