A climate conducive to orchards
The traditional Lorraine landscape is characterized by forests on the heights, orchards on the slopes, gardens and villages on the hillsides, crops and meadows at the bottom of the valleys. The many orchards enjoy a climate that rarely exceeds an average summer temperature of 25°C, which can lead to cool nights. What's more, Lorraine's soil is naturally rich in clay (over 30%) and receives over 800 mm of water per year. Clay, a major asset, is a component of the soil that retains water. A boon for stone fruit trees like the Mirabel. The small roots of this regional emblem are spread out on the surface to draw in the air and water needed to flourish. Until 1900, Lorraine was essentially a land of livestock and vines, before becoming the most favorable land for the development of the mirabelle plum. Today, 90% of the world's mirabelle plum production comes from Lorraine. The harvest lasts six weeks and takes place mainly in August, until early September.
Heritage preservation
Maintaining orchards, both professional and private, requires a collective investment by all players in the sector. In view of the stakes involved in the mirabelle plum sector, initiatives by private individuals and voluntary associations are now emerging. A number of organizations have been working for years to perpetuate our heritage and improve the main aspects of orchard management, such as pruning, disease control and fertilization. These include the "Verger conservatoire prunes et mirabelles" in Lorraine, created in 1981 in partnership with the Parc naturel de Lorraine, and the "Les éco-pattes" association, which promotes and develops eco-pasturing for the upkeep and enhancement of green and natural areas. The "Meuse Nature Environnement" association is also committed to preserving this precious heritage with the help of its volunteers and supporters. They help to safeguard varieties of fruit trees through a nursery, destined for Meuse's conservatory orchards. From Fresnes-en-Woëvre to the ponds of the Woëvre plain, the Côtes de Meuse are awe-inspiring. In spring, the mirabelle plums are adorned with a thousand and one flowers, while in summer, the fruit releases its fruity fragrance. It's easy to get to know the owners of family orchards. Thanks to them, the biodiversity of fruit trees is maintained. Apples, pears, plums, cherries... their harvests are a source of inimitable flavors and lend themselves to the production of delicious compotes, jams, jellies and fruit juices.
The mirabelle plum, emblem of the region
It's the gold of Lorraine, one of its most beautiful symbols. It weighs no more than 15 grams (including the stone), is yellow as the sun, is only eaten for a few weeks at the end of summer, after the September harvest, and is the emblem of an entire region: the mirabelle plum, of course. This very special fruit is a specialty of Lorraine, which alone accounts for around 70% of world production. The mirabelle plum is a small tree with gnarled branches. It produces an average of 100 kg of fruit! Its origins are mysterious, but the story most often told attributes its introduction to the Duke of Anjou and Lorraine in the 15th century. The first mirabelle trees were planted in Mirabeau in the Vaucluse region, hence the name, before arriving in Lorraine. From the 16th century onwards, mirabelle plums flourished and quickly became a local specialty. Endangered at the end of the 20th century, the fruit was rescued in 1991 by over 200 Lorraine growers who joined forces to form the Coopérative Végafruits, with the aim of bringing it back to life. Located in the heart of Lorraine, with a potential output of 8,000 tonnes produced by 200 growers on 600 hectares of orchards, Vegafruits is the sales office created from the union of 2 fruit cooperatives (Jardin de Lorraine and Vergers de Lorraine). The cooperative represents 40% of the world market for mirabelle plums. Today, this yellow gold is exported all over the world in the form of a fragrant eau-de-vie that aids digestion and soothes the heart.
The mirabelle plum at the heart of gastronomy
Mirabelle plums are on every restaurant menu in Lorraine, and in every household! Mirabelle plums can be eaten in a variety of ways. While mirabelle plums can be enjoyed as a dessert, they can also be used to garnish sweet or savory dishes. The most famous savory recipe is filet mignon de porc à la mirabelle, a must in the region. On the sweet side, plum quiche is the ancestor of the famous mirabelle plum tart, a classic to be enjoyed as a snack or after a meal. Many producers and chefs also make jams from them. Whatever form it takes, its aromas infuse all kinds of Lorraine dishes. Mirabelle hot soufflé, gingerbread-style mirabelle cake, mirabelle madeleines, mirabelle sweets... it's impossible not to succumb to its delicious flavor. Made into jams, confectionery, cookies, pastries, nectars, teas... it can also be frozen! Lorraine's fruit production, rich in berries such as the mirabelle plum, has also led to the production of a corresponding eau-de-vie. Since the art of distillation is neither very complicated nor very expensive, it's still not uncommon to find farmers distilling their own spirits. Mirabelle plums are the most widely used of these. Mirabelle plum eau-de-vie, mirabelle plum cream and mirabelle plum liqueur can all be enjoyed as digestifs. In Lorraine, this eau-de-vie has been awarded the AOR label (appellation d'origine réglementée), which guarantees distillation from naturally fermented fruit with no additives. Raspberries, pears and quetsches are the other fruits used in the distillers' stills. Very sweet, these eaux-de-vie can be drunk as digestives or used to flavor typical Lorraine recipes.
Informative and entertaining visits
For a real taste of local culture, visit the Arefe conservatory orchard in Hattonville, and learn about the history of the mirabelle plum in Lorraine, and discover the orchard through the seasons. Visits are organized on a regular basis, by reservation only, to introduce visitors to the cultivation of the Lorraine mirabelle plum and the profession of arboriculturist. During the summer, the conservatory orchard offers open houses, depending on the ripeness of the fruit and by reservation only. The Jolivet educational orchard also offers a fun activity. Open to all, especially schoolchildren, the community educational orchard is an old orchard covering more than 3,000m2. Located in the Jolivet commune, it is representative of the orchards of the Lunévillois region. Made available to the intercommunality by the commune, it is home to some thirty apple, pear, plum, cherry, quince and walnut trees. Every year, under the guidance of specialized organizers, several hundred children explore the "Joli-verger", discovering ordinary biodiversity and the local landscape and culinary heritage. If you want to go even further, visit La Maison de la Mirabelle, in Rozelieures, which is dedicated to this little golden marble. Here, you can learn all about the mirabelle plum with a discovery trail, projections and a magnificent sound and light show in the distillery, which features this pretty orange-yellow fruit in a brand-new scenography. From the making of Mirabelle plum brandy to the planting of the tree and the distillation of the alcohol, nothing will be a secret to you. You can share your impressions with other visitors at the tasting sessions - which are as convivial as they are tasty. You can then choose the product you prefer and buy it in the pretty boutique.
A festive fruit culture
The quintessential symbol of Lorraine also has its own festival! For over 60 years, this golden queen has been honored throughout the city. The Mirabelle plum festival takes place precisely at the time when the fruit can be found on all the stalls and in many dishes. The mirabelle plum season is short, from mid-August to early September, after which there's only jam and brandy to wait for. The event that marks the start of the festivities is the election of the Reine de la Mirabelle and her two runners-up (to the delight of young and old alike!), a contest that doesn't judge misses solely on their looks, but above all on their sense of repartee. Once the winner has been announced, it's off to the party and the music! Throughout the week, special events honor the fruit. To round off the festivities, a magnificent fireworks display lights up the skies over Metz, followed by the Grand Corso de la Mirabelle, a parade of floral floats and artists of all kinds. During this special week, chefs at restaurants in Metz and the surrounding area have been featuring Mirabelle plums on their menus for some years now. And while the mirabelle steals the show, its rival, the Woippy strawberry, is also entitled to its own celebration. This takes place every year in June in Rettel, on the banks of the Moselle, with its parade and numerous events. It was in 1868 that the Vion brothers from Woippy decided to grow strawberries. Originally, the inhabitants of Woippy liked to call the strawberry "tomato". But it was not until the 1930s that Woippy and the Moselle Valley became the leading strawberry-growing region in France.
