What is a Bleu-Blanc -cœur vegetable ?

When you see the Bleu-Blanc-Coeur logo,  you probably think about food coming from animal breeding, including milk, dairy products (butter, cheese, yoghurt…), eggs and meat trays or otherwise meal products such biscuits, pasta, bread…. A new kid who is unlike any other got stamped in 2020, spinach, etc.  Bleu-Blanc-Coeur is going green because our plants also deserve nutritional density. eggs and meat trays. A new kid who is unlike any other got stamped, spinach, etc.  Bleu-Blanc-Coeur is going green because our plants also deserve nutritional density.

A small logo which means a lot

The Bleu-Blanc-Coeur logo means that the product wearing it is answering to a specific ressources guidelines carring about the nutritional and environmental quality of our food… but also the feed given to animals (because it goes hand to hand!). These resources guidelines are the result of more than 20 years of collaborative research, in particular with INRAE, and are constantly evolving.

All of our resources guidelines have the same objective: make the link between an environmentally friendly production method and the nutritional quality of the product, based on measurable nutritional criteria. In animal sector, these nutritional criteria characterize the product’s lipid balance, and in particular its omega_3 content, which is depending on the animals diet: grass, flax, alfafa, etc…giving a healthy food to the animals, thus allows, a measurable improvement in the nutritional quality of the product, but also a lower environmental impact (according to life cycle analyses, ADEME: Environment and energy management French agency).

On the vegetal side, there are a lot of parameters in the way of production wich can influence the composition of the plants: the variety used, the quality of the soil, the climate, the seasons, etc. Studies on the subject abound but are not always very conclusive because the paradigm is complex. Bleu-Blanc-Coeur always wishes to be as close as possible to scientists to set up production criteria that are both justified and relevant; this is why we are taking part in a large participatory research movement spearheaded by the American organization BIONUTRIENT FOOD ASSOCIATION. Thanks to this collaboration, fruit and vegetable producers who are members of Bleu-Blanc-Coeur will be able to carry out analyses of theirs plants and soil at a lower cost in exchange for which these measures will enrich a large worldwide database on practices, production and nutritional density of vegetables.

Which agro-ecological practices?

Yet the Bleu-Blanc-Coeur vegetable resource guidelines already include basic criteria that appeal to common sense in the peasantry: no heated greenhouses, no soilless crops, no herbicides or synthetic fertilizers. In addition, in order to be in an approach as respectful as possible of the environment, Bleu-Blanc-Coeur works with producers who are engaged in higher farming approach such the “organic farming” or alternative such “high environmental value” certification offered by (French authorities)  » and based on indicators relating to biodiversity, the phytosanitary strategy as well as the management of fertilization and irrigation on the farm. But, in order not to take on overly elitist approach to agriculture, we also open applications to non-certified market gardeners subject to being able to justify the implementation of agroecological practices compatible with a CSR approach with positive impacts for the market environment.

Which nutritional measure?

Bleu-Blanc-Coeur has developed with its scientific partners an “IDN” for ”Nutritional Density Index”, which groups together the levels of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fibers measured in vegetables; This is an equation that also takes into account the RDA (Recommended daily allowance) for these different categories of nutrients .The idea is to guarantee consumers a measured intake that is in line with their nutritional need.

A semester analysis is request by our quality department from the producer, in order to verify that the vegetable has an IDN greater than a threshold value of 7/10. These obligations of result make possible to ensure, through the Bleu-Banc-Coeur logo, a controlled nutritional density with a minimum threshold of nutrient intake. The Bleu-Blanc-Coeur logo is therefore now well and truly present in plant sectors and is intended to reflect a health-oriented agriculture, based on scientific analyses, which is both good for the earth and good for people.

So, let’s produce and consume the bleu-Blanc-Coeur fruit and vegetable!