Rapport nr - SIFO

Agro-food industry 212.5.1 The Producer UnionThe Producers Union is an association of producers who wants to develop a common project and oftentries to give value to their products with solidary action. The aim of this union is linked more to thecommercialisation or the promotion than other unions, which typically do not have any policy role orrepresentation in a council, are totally autonomic. The most famous of these unions called “Bienvenueà la ferme” - “Welcome at farm”- was created by the Departmental Chamber of Agriculture to supportand help farmers to develop tourist activities on their farm, such as Bed and Breakfasts or restaurants.The brand “Bienvenue à la ferme”, since this name is registered like a brand, brings to the consumeran assurance of quality and control. This is not a label, but the policy of this union includes privatecontrols since every member has to sign the quality charter to adhere to this union. Currently, differentactivities are managed for its members like the “producer open market”, “farm open market” and thedevelopment of tourist-run activities to make visiting the farm interesting.2.5.2 The Agricultural UnionsThe Agricultural Unions are “the political parties” in agriculture. Their goal is completely differentthan the one of the Producer Union. The aim and the role of this union is to represent the producermembers in an administrative councils of the state (Chamber of Agriculture) or in private organisationand union of producers, for example, in some companies. These political organisations are managedlike typical political parties, with a national management and a central direction with offices spread onall territories. You can be a member not only in a Producer Union, but also in an agricultural union, asa citizen member of a political party and at the same time with an association.