In Uzès, huge crowds at the traditional truffle market

Le marché était noir de monde. Midi Libre – Audrey Rossi

Grâce au froid, la truffe est sortie : 100 kg du précieux champignon étaient proposés sur le marché de la place aux Herbes.

This weekend, Uzès hosted the 30th edition of the truffle weekend.

The winegrower's evening opened the ball Friday evening at L’Ombrière with 425 participants who tasted truffle dishes while wandering among the 20 winegrowers present to introduce their wines.

After parading through the room, the Compagnie Bachique proceeded to the induction of Jean-Michel and Philippe Richaud from the Trésors des vignes cellar.

New inductions. Noon Free – Audrey Rossi

Saturday evening, the Truffle Bodega organized on the Place aux Herbes under a marquee was, as usual, a great success despite the negative temperature.

Thanks to the cold, the truffle came out well 

And on Sunday, for the truffle market, the Place aux Herbes was packed with people!  "It's not a very good year but thanks to the cold last week, we had a very good release so all the producers had some. We finally had 100 kg on the market. In terms of sales, we feel that things are pulling a little. Whether it's the producers or the snack stands, they tell me that they sell but more slowly,  explains Louis Teulle, president of the Gard truffle growers' union.

Regulars who come from far away

Indeed, at noon the stands were not empty unlike other years. For Patrick Revest, producer, "Truffle is expensive. It started a little late this morning because of the cold and there is an increase in truffle markets. But we still sell. There are a lot of people.  

« We really have regulars who come from far and wide. I have Germans and Swiss who were there early this morning. They know that they will find quality here », rejoices Gabriel Stengel, producer.
Despite its high price, there were many connoisseurs and curious people.

"We come every year. This year we took a little less but we never miss this market" explain Valérie and Jean from Switzerland. Jacqueline, a Belgian who has a house in the area, took the opportunity to introduce friends to truffles: " This is the first time I’ve eaten it and I love it. I took some to bring back to Belgium"

1,500 euros raised at the auction

The traditional auction brought in 1,500 € which will be given to Father Bastidon for charitable associations of his choice.

The auction for the benefit of charities. Noon Free – Audrey Rossi

Luc Reynaud, president of the agricultural promotion committee, presented the medal of the agricultural promotion committee to Michel Tournayre and Michel Gueber who are, with Paul Stengel who recently passed away, the men thanks to whom everything started.