Six new producers set up shop in the gourmet markets of Saint-Affrique

Christine et Lucie Perez aux huîtres de Zigues. Midi libre – Marilyn Beaufour

À Saint-Affrique, les marchés de pays de l’été se déroulent tous les jeudis jusqu’au 22 août. Six nouveaux producteurs les ont rejoints avec un bilan satisfaisant pour la première édition du 18 juillet.

"This first deal isn't too bad. Few tourists certainly but the locals were very present", notes Jordi Soulié, co-president of the Association of Farmers of Aveyron. He continues: "This year, six new producers joined the sixteen old ones, Zigues mussels and oysters (de Bouzigues), an ice cream merchant, cheeses, yogurts, milk flans whole 100% sheep from the Draille cheese dairy (Lestrade-et-Thouels), a charcuterie producer from Brousse-le-Château (Gascon black pork), Théo Courdy (brazier caterer) with the Bousquet farm and a wine producer. "In fact, the public will find almost everything to eat on this first gourmet market of summer 2024, falafels, AOC wine from Marcillac, local beer, organic products (including bread) from the Bousquet farm which is also a farmer-baker, desserts, duck and even artistic crafts.

Natural charcuterie

Régis Colson of Porcs Noirs de la Vernhière discusses his presence here for the first time: "I'm happy to have been accepted. You must apply to the association. I received the response quite late, at the end of May with a commitment to hold my stand every Thursday. I went around last year to make sure no one was selling pork. In fact, I am the only one to offer plates of natural charcuterie accompanied by melon."

From local to every corner of the market

The co-president specifies: "The ice creams and oysters from the Étang de Thau worked well, Christine Perez and her daughter Lucie were very happy , a little less on the sheep cheese side. For the cheese, it will take a little time, it's not what works best here." Total success for Théo Courdy's brazier which doesn't ;rsquo;only uses local products, even rapeseed oil! He is enthusiastic: “Especially for the market, I cooked pascades on my brazier. They are a kind of pancake, here with sheep's cheese camembert and sliced ​​potatoes (from the Bousquet farm, organic). At 8:15 p.m., I had nothing left, they were such a success! Good to know for the following markets…”

Every Thursday in Saint-Affrique

On the public side, people happy to taste good products, sitting quietly, listening to music. A family of three children plus two grandparents eat hamburgers, fries and a truffade. They have crepes for dessert for the adults and ice cream for the boys. The youngest, aged three, wiggles to the rhythm, a chip in his hand. The father says: “We come every year, at least twice, it's a good time spent together, as a family. And what we buy is really good. Usually, after the meal and the walk along the stands, we end the evening in the park.” Further on, a retired couple are enjoying mussels in brasucade, accompanied by La Caussenarde beer. “It's really delicious, declares the lady, we'll come back this summer, for sure, maybe to try something else or maybe not, she says laughing… Oysters and mussels from the Etang de Thau, hats off! Excellent idea.” A good start for the 2024 gourmet markets which will return every Thursday to Saint-Affrique.