Gueules Cassées label returns to French supermarkets to support farmers

The “Gueules Cassées” initiative, an anti-waste label for imperfect fruits and vegetables, is returning to large supermarkets in France starting in mid-September. The relaunch aims to support local producers who have faced significant harvest losses due to extreme summer heatwaves and exceptional drought.

Nicolas Chabanne, co-founder of the consumer cooperative C'est Qui Le Patron?!, stated that the move is an urgent response to help farmers whose crops have been decimated by climate conditions. The products, which may be smaller, irregularly shaped, or less colorful, remain fully consumable but would typically be rejected by traditional distribution channels due to aesthetic standards.

The rollout is expected to begin with apples, followed by pears, grapes, figs, and plums, as well as vegetables such as leeks, cabbage, celery, and squash. This initiative seeks to mitigate the economic impact on French farms and reduce reliance on imports, which currently account for approximately 50% of some produce consumed in the country.