The best local producers Ardèche

Vincent's Oil Mill, located in Payzac, is in the front row of the most beautiful square in Les Vans. Nestled on the Place de la Fontaine, in a 17th century house, the store offers oils, tapenades and cosmetics from the mill; other local products, including flavored oils, honeys, or jams complete the list of delicacies. You will also discover the work of the olive growers. Possible tasting and visit in the afternoon.

Joyeuse macaroons have been around since the ^16th century, created from an Italian recipe, passed through the intrigues of the King of France's court and then brought back to the Ardèche by the Duke of Joyeuse. In the Maison Charaix boutique, you'll be welcomed with infinite kindness to discover this historic sweet. Take your time, look around, taste... we advise you without pushing you, we inform you without stressing you. The store also sells local honeys, other cookies and chestnut products.

This barn is the result of a group of ten or so producers from the Drôme and Ardèche who decided to open and run a direct sales shop at the entrance to Saint-Péray, ideal for shopping. On the shelves, the delicious wines of Pascal Jamet, producer in Arras-sur-Rhône, the beef and pears of Philippe and Florent Cros in Boffres, the vegetables of Rosa and Jean-Pierre Vial in Bourg-lès-Valence, the goat and ewe's milk cheeses of Nathalie and Alain Noyer in Mariac, the jams and chestnut cream of Martine, Michel and Aurélien Grange in Lamastre, fruit from Jean-Paul Laprat in Saint-Laurent-du-Pape, eggs, potatoes, raspberries and chestnuts from Véronique, André and Fabien Moins in Chalencon, lamb from Sylvie Volle in Dornas and charcuterie from Pascal Robin in Rochessauve. Among the newcomers in the house: Yann-Vari Carel from Mas de Barral in Marsanne, for ducks and duck foie gras, and Eric Roumeysi from Ardoix for chickens, guinea fowl and other poultry. And to get to know all these producers who are committed to quality, a film shows you the daily work on the farms. More than one reason to stop by. An address recommended by the Futé. And keep an eye out on Facebook: tasting days are regularly organised by this or that producer around ostrich meat, ewe's milk yoghurt... A very nice initiative that deserves a detour to shop, bring back souvenirs...

" We have a green thumb in the family ". It is undoubtedly thanks to this predisposition that Jean-Noël Berneau, a teacher by trade, has planted 20 hectares of olive trees on the steep lands of his Ardèche estate without any problem. About thirty varieties are thus present, forming a veritable conservatory of Ardèche varieties. Only about fifteen varieties are dedicated to the production of single variety oils. The estate is now in organic farming.

No, it is not a flour mill! It is olive oil that is at stake, and it is the fourth generation of the Froment family that is passionate about this production, but also the collections of bicycles and old vehicles presented to the public. The ancestral mill from 1900, one of the few mills in the south of France to have survived the harsh winter of 1956, gave way in 2009 to a new modern equipment, and it is now Alain Froment who is in charge. His Alpine granite millstone extracts extra virgin, green and black fruity oil, although the house specialty remains the ripe fruity. The crushing is done with a stone millstone, which allows a slow and soft extraction, in order to preserve the gustative and aromatic qualities of the fruits. Made with different local varieties of olives (rougette de l'Ardèche, négrette, béchude, dorée, l'ubac and blanche de Payzac), these oils are rich in aromas. Depending on the year, a hundred tons or more of olives are crushed. A must in Les Vans. At the Concours Général Agricole, organized every year during the Salon de l'Agriculture in Paris, in early March 2022, the olive oil from the Froment mill in Les Vans won a gold medal. Do not hesitate to discover the store, located on the spot, where you will be able to buy the artisanal olive oil of the Froment family, some derived products, and multiple products of the soil and the regional products.

In the hélicicole farm, which can be visited from 1 June to 30 September, snails can be acquired in different forms and packaging on demand for professionals. The general public will have the choice between two dozen packs, short-bouillonnés snails in verrines and toaster preparation, house specialty, «escargotine».

A must of the Ardèche chestnut grove! More than 65 specialities compete for the spotlight: PDO chestnuts in their natural state, in cream, in syrup, in flour, in liqueur... There is also a gourmet collection of around twenty jams and jellies made from fruit from the orchard or the mountains. Also on the shelves: lamb meat, beers and Ardèche wines. You can visit the chestnut grove and the processing workshop before savouring the specialities which you will be sure to stock up on afterwards so that you can enjoy the Ardèche at home...

In her beautiful farmhouse at Les Echaffis, at an altitude of 1,400 m, Nicole treats gourmets at snack time, either hot or cold, with mulled wine, hot and cold drinks and home-made pastries. Her speciality are the jams that can be found on all the gourmet tables of the country: chestnut, blueberry and raspberry jams or flower jams with, for example, a delicious elderberry jam. A marvel not to be missed and that we hasten to buy in the shop on the spot.

This very friendly grocery store with its poetic name on the side of the main road offers products from around fifty local producers. The project was born of a group of market gardeners who, after meeting up at the markets, decided to embark on the adventure of a cooperative store. The associative structure has 200^m2 of premises and favors bulk distribution. On the shelves are mainly local and organic products: local apricot jam and crisp salad, nettle tea and royal jelly, chestnuts, etc.

In 2007, the producers of the Bas-Vivarais fruit cooperative set up the first producers' village store in the commune of Saint-Sernin. In 2011, they opened a second outlet in Aubenas, and in 2017 another in Ruoms. Self-service or by the slice: Ardèche charcuterie and cheeses, farmhouse meats, poultry, seasonal fruit and vegetables, jams, soups, 5 or 10 kilo flours, pâté, beer, wine, as well as a frozen food section.

Barbara and Frank Lami are two young beekeepers from Alboussière who have specialized in the difficult task of extracting "royal jelly". This extremely rich substance is known for its revitalizing action in the fight against stress and fatigue. In mid-season, it naturally boosts the immune system. This very active couple are passionate about beekeeping, and will tell you all about its benefits for the environment. A refresher course!

With her 1,000 olive trees, from different varieties, Florence Cheyrezy harvests each year nearly 6 tons of olives transformed into four single variety oils, fruité vert or fruité mûr. In addition, there is an oil from an old orchard whose variety has not been determined. You can visit the facility and the olive grove of the Fontaine du Muletier estate. You can also bring your own olives to have your oil pressed (from 50 kg).

Based in a village at the gateway to the Haute-Loire, at an altitude of 1,000 metres, this producer is a good fairy. Monique Lempereur is a gleaner who wanders through the nature of the Vivarais region to pick hawthorn, nettle, wild thyme, pine buds, lime tree... In all, she has about thirty varieties that she dries and puts into bags for sale in the short circuit. In addition to herbal teas, she concocts ointments, care oils, jellies, liqueurs and syrups. But her best-seller is a syrup and a jelly made from mid-mountain hay. A delight with goat cheese!

Sandra and Mathieu decided to settle on the plateau des Grads as farmers to raise pigs and cows. The pigs are Gascon and the cows Highland. In their organic farm, they transform a fatty and marbled meat into rillettes, black puddings, pork confit, filet mignon, ribs in the spine, chipolatas, sausages... In other words, a healthy and tasty country-style charcuterie. And an organic beekeeper of Privas puts hives on the spot for honey of scrubland.

Everything is good in the pig. This is certainly not the address where you'll be told otherwise. At the farm, Avril, a pig farmer, offers a wide range of meat and charcuterie products, free from artificial colourings and additives, from her happy pigs raised in the open air and fed on GMO-free cereals. Only 5% of pigs in France are raised outdoors. Each pig has at least 250 m² of floor space, as opposed to a maximum of 1 m² in the buildings. A commitment. Self-guided tours all year round, and guided tours by appointment. Avril knows how to share her passion!

The Possety family left the Lyon region to settle here and become producers of spirulina, this micro-algae with many virtues, rich in proteins and minerals, and anti-oxidant. In three basins of culture, they produce, under the sign of Spiruline des Monts d'Ardèche, spirulina in twigs or tablets, stamped organic. The producers are inexhaustible on their subject and are even happy to give you recipes.

A store of local producers and craftsmen with an organic grocery section, Biasso is run by the producers themselves. On the shelves, sourdough bread, ceramics, soaps, jams, fruit juices, meat, cheese, pasta, fruit and vegetables, textiles, leather, wool, honey, eggs, essential oils, medicinal plants, beer... So many products in a short circuit, respectful of the environment, in a self-managed collective sales point. Producers' shop and farm shop as an alternative to the big supermarkets... In addition, there are some basic grocery products.

Miellerie A Tire d'Aile, located in the Ardèche region of France, stands out for the quality and freshness of its beekeeping products. Whether it's honey, royal jelly, pollen or propolis, each element is produced with the utmost care to offer a gustatory and sensory experience that lives up to your expectations. In addition to direct sales, the honey house offers fascinating tours and workshops, so that everyone can discover the secrets of artisanal beekeeping. It's a real voyage into the world of bees, in a spirit of sharing and transmission.

Domaine Alain Dumarcher is a vineyard located in Gras, Ardèche. It offers a variety of products such as lavandin essential oils, 5-liter wine coolers in red or rosé, and IGP Ardèche and AOP Côtes du Vivarais wines.