Blue Whale SAS is one of Europe’s leading cooperatives in fresh fruit production and export, headquartered in the Montauban region of Southwest France. Founded over 50 years ago, the company brings together more than 300 fruit growers across 5 major French growing regions and exports to over 80 countries worldwide. Renowned for its innovation in apple varietals and sustainable farming practices, Blue Whale represents a benchmark in premium French fruit branding and global market reach.
Core Business
Blue Whale specializes in the cultivation, packing, marketing, and global distribution of apples, along with a diversified range of other fruits such as pears, kiwis, plums, and grapes. With an integrated model encompassing orchard management, post-harvest handling, quality assurance, and logistics, the cooperative ensures full control of the value chain from tree to international shelf.
Primary Product Categories:
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Apples:
- Over 27 varieties including:
- Club & Branded Apples: Pink Lady®, Joya®, Candine®, Ariane, Tentation®, Novablue®, Honeycrunch®, Juliet®
- Organic: Élément Terre Bio®, Demeter-labeled varieties
- Grown across five regions: Loire Valley, Alpes, Provence, Garonne Valley, and Southwest.
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Other Fruits:
- Pears: Williams, Comice, Sweet Sensation®
- Kiwis: Hayward, Summerkiwi®, Oscar®
- Plums: Reine Claude, Angeleno
- Table Grapes: Italia, Crimson, Muscat
Specialization and Unique Selling Points
- Leader in French Apples: Over 250,000 tons of apples produced annually, making Blue Whale France’s top apple exporter.
- Innovation in Varietals: Exclusive rights and breeding partnerships for high-flavor club apples with long shelf life and export resilience.
- Export Excellence: Supplies to over 80 countries, including Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and North America.
- Sustainability Focus:
- 25% of production certified GlobalG.A.P. and GRASP
- Over 15% organic orchards, expanding each season
- Reduced pesticide usage, eco-orchard protocols, biodiversity programs
Financial and Shipment Data
While Blue Whale operates as a cooperative and does not publicly release complete financial reports, external industry data and market presence indicate robust scale:
- Annual Production: ~250,000 metric tons of apples
- Export Share: 60% of total production exported internationally
- Key Markets: Vietnam, China, India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Canada, and Northern Europe
- Storage Capacity: Over 40,000 tons in controlled atmosphere cold storage
The cooperative works with state-of-the-art packing stations, exporting hundreds of containers weekly during peak harvest seasons.
Target Market
- Retail Chains and Supermarkets
- Importers and Wholesalers
- Foodservice and Hospitality Distributors
- Organic and Biodynamic Product Buyers
- Retailers focused on premium and club variety programs
Capabilities
- Advanced Sorting & Packing: Optical graders, defect sorters, and traceability systems integrated into packhouses.
- Cold Chain Mastery: Controlled atmosphere (CA) and dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA) storage ensure fruit freshness over long distances.
- Technical Agronomy Teams: On-field teams assist growers with data-driven orchard management and crop forecasting.
- Sustainable Packaging: Adoption of recyclable, plastic-free, and retailer-customized packaging formats.
- Certification & Compliance Expertise: Adapts to phytosanitary and residue compliance across diverse international standards.
Certifications & Compliance
- GlobalG.A.P. (for food safety and sustainability)
- GRASP (Social responsibility compliance)
- IFS Food / BRC (Post-harvest safety and quality)
- Demeter Certified Biodynamic Farming
- Ecocert & EU Organic Certification
- Zero-Residue Programs for selected markets
Customer Testimonials
Retailers across Asia and the Middle East frequently cite Blue Whale apples for their superior firmness, shelf-life, and flavor profile, even under long transit times. Importers value the cooperative’s consistent quality, strong brand recognition, and responsive export documentation support.
Major Achievements
- France’s #1 apple exporter by volume and variety range.
- More than 80 global export markets served continuously.
- Over 50 years of cooperative heritage in sustainable fruit farming.
- Pioneer in club variety commercialization in Europe.
- Developer of multiple proprietary and exclusive varietals tailored for export and retail success.
