Hermione Boehrer, “Madame Mustard”
Hermione was the first farmer to take the chance to grow kale with The Kale Project. Even though she did not produce the first crop (snails ate the first one!) she has persevered and will sell her baby kale almost year round at the Marché Batignolles and Marché Raspail. Her farmette is located in Coloummiers, east of Paris.
Read more about Madame Mustard.
Marché Batignolles (Sat/Sam) & Marché Raspail (Sun/Dim)
Video by Mariana Keller
Nicolas Thirard
Nicolas Thirard‘s farm is located near Picardie in northern France. A producer of beautiful organic produce, he sells almost weekly through La Ruche Qui Dit Oui throughout the Paris region. He originally started growing kale by accident when his trust seed source gave him seeds for what he thought was another headed cabbage. It was when Kristen approached him at his Ruche off the Canal Saint-Martin, on only the 1st or 2nd time he brought kale to sell, that they met. He was also the featured farmer in a video and interview with Madame Figaro in August 2013. Nicolas sells his kale as “chou plume,” and supplies the restaurant Table as well as the produce for the cold-press juice brand, Nu Bio.
Michèle François, Légumes Project
Michèle and her husband first started growing organic kale in the Morlaix region in 2012, after a trip to the UK where they were introduced to the cabbage. Growing a small amount at first, they have increased the amount of fields dedicated to kale over the past few years and now grow the Tuscan/chou noir variety as well. Kristen and Michèle first met at the Omnivore festival in 2013 where Michèle was showcasing chou kale. Their production is part of the Bio Breizh cooperative (they are one of two kale producers) and their kale is frequently found at organic shops and middle-men stands at markets. Michèle is also the founder of Légumes Project, an initiative to educate children about plants, vegetables and the history of the Morlaix region.
Gérard Essayan, Les Jardins de Vartan
Gérard first contacted Kristen back in late 2012 with an interest to grow kale. An organic farmer in the Lyon area, Gérard also supplies restaurants in the area and thought that perhaps a few of his chef connections would be interested. While a first crop was not ideal, he has since grown beautiful kale. He sells his produce at a shop near his fields. Gérard was also featured in a Canal+ segment about kale and The Kale Project in 2013.
Joël Thiebault
Heralded as The King of Vegetables and what Kristen calls “a rockstar,” Joël Thiebault grew kale at one time or another without it ever selling very well. Through a Kale Project supporter, Kristen spoke with him in June 2012 and asked him to grow kale again. Being a good sport, he gave it another go and since autumn 2012, now sells both curly, green kale and Tuscan kale (under chou cavalier at his market stand). Definitely check out the array of other légume oublié that he grows. The colors and variety never disappoint.
This stand is now closed.
Nicolas Sarle & Marion Sourdois, Les Sourciers
Husband and wife team, Nicolas and Marion farms in the Gers region using hydroponic methods. Marion first decided to grow kale because her grandmother saw an article about the cabbage in a women’s magazine. She contacted Kristen and the two met this past July during a trip for The Female Farmer Project. You can read more here and here. Les Sourciers sell their kale to local restaurants and in Toulouse & Bordeaux via com3pom.fr.
Mari et femme, Nicolas et Marion forment une belle équipe. Dans la région du Gers, ils produisent selon des méthodes hydroponiques. Marion a décidé de faire pousser le kale suite à un article vu par sa grand-mère dans un magazine féminin. Elle a pris contact avec Kristen, et les deux femmes se sont rencontrées en juillet lors d’un voyage pour The Female Farmer Project. Vous pouvez en lire davantage ici et ici. Les Sourciers vendent leur kale à des restaurants locaux ainsi qu’à Toulouse et à Bordeaux à travers com3pom.fr.
Sebastian Benoit-Pizon, “Monsieur Vincennes”
Sebastian was the second farmer introduce to The Kale Project. While he lost touch with the project, Kristen later on discovered that his kale grew well and was sold at his market in Vincennes. He farms in St. André in the (91) department of France.
Sebastian était le deuxième agriculteur à rejoindre le Kale Project. Bien qu’ils aient perdu contact depuis, Kristen a découvert par la suite que le kale a bien poussé et qu’il se vendait bien au marché à Vincennes. Son exploitation se trouve à Saint-André, dans le 91.
Marché Vincennes (Fri, Sun/Ven, Dim)