Known as the saladier (salad bowl) of France, the Languedoc Roussillon area boasts some of the finest fresh produce in the country. With over 300 days of sunshine each year, local producers relish the climate as much as the tourists, harvesting a bounty of crops from apricots to zucchinis (ok, courgette, but vegetables beginning with ‘z’ are few and far between!)

This weekend, the allées Maillol of central Perpignan will host a celebration of our abundant heritage : la fête des fruits et légumes frais (festival of fresh fruit and vegetables). In partnership with the Chambre d’agriculture, the Perpignan Marie is organising two days of education, discovery and fun.

On Friday over 600 local students will showcase environmental and agricultural projects that they have developed over the course of the school year, focusing on the fundamental principles of local production. A variety of stalls and stands will welcome visitors and provide information on seasonal produce, purchasing guidelines and the work that goes in to cultivating those ripe, plump treasures we devour on a daily basis.

On Saturday, the local producers’ market will be open for business, offering the finest produce from across the region. As well as fresh fruit and vegetables, visitors will be able to purchase the finest wines, honeys and that French diet staple, snails. At 10.30am, prizes will be awarded for the youth culinary challenge, les Mini-Toques ; a competition for school children designed to increase their awareness of the importance of a balanced diet and local production.

Workshops, music, games and, of course, the finest of fresh produce… it’s never been so easy to get your five-a-day ! Discover the whole program here.