The French love cheese, it is well known.
Whether made from cow's, sheep's or goat's milk, this typical foodstuff of French gastronomy sells very well all year round.
In 2020, sales even exploded: + 9.4% for cheeses made from cow's milk, + 7.2% for goat cheeses and 5.5% for those made from sheep's milk, according to data from FranceAgriMer and of the Kantar organization.
But in recent months, production has declined.
In question, the very rainy weather this summer, which altered the quality of the hay grazed by the cows.
These produced less milk, and therefore less cheese, raising doubts about a shortage as Christmas approached.
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The cheeses that could be affected by tensions over the availability of stocks are Auvergne cheeses of protected designation of origin (PDO).
Five in number (Saint-Nectaire, Cantal, Fourme d'Ambert, Bleu d'Auvergne and Salers), they are in great demand.
Especially since the prestigious PDO label of the producers of these cheeses prevents them from preparing them from milk imported from other regions.
"There will be some for everyone !"
So should we fear a shortage of cheese during the holiday season?
“
Certainly not!
»Answers Claude Maret, the president of the FFF (Fédération des Fromagers de France).
“
Production is only declining very locally.
It can miss 1 or 2 cheeses at Christmas in some places because there is a peak of demand, and still, but to speak of shortage, that no!
He adds.
Without denying that in December there could be "
some difficulties
" for certain very specific cheeses "including Saint Nectaire" he recognizes, Claude Maret defends that "
there is no reason to panic people.
".
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“
Every year there are breaks on certain cheeses.
And that's normal!
", He assures."
There is seasonality, changing fashions ... 10 years ago, dairy cheese represented 70% of sales.
Today, the trend is for farmhouse cheeses, such as AOP d'Auvergne.
During peaks in consumption, some producers have a little trouble keeping up.
These are the vagaries of a fluctuating market, you have to know how to adapt.
But we have more than 1000 different cheeses, there will be something for everyone!
".
No (too much) worry, then.
For these end-of-year celebrations, the French should be able to find their favorite cheeses without too much difficulty.