The progressive disappearance of Burgundy cultivation

Up to the Second World War, in Burgundy, mustard was cultivated in woodland, in the charcoal burner clearings where the charcoal kilns, a large number of which existed in Burgundy at that time, were located.
The discarded "ashes" from charcoal burning were rich in potash and encouraged the growth of mustard, the seed for which was sown by the charcoal makers. When the plant reached maturity and the seed was gathered, the collectors bought the seed from the charcoal makers and then sold it to the Dijon region's mustard makers.

Due to the large number of charcoal producers and a smaller population level, this form of mustard seed cultivation was largely sufficient to supply the Burgundy mustard producers. However, due to the falling off in the demand for charcoal for industrial use, and the subsequent reduction in the number of charcoal burners, the drop in mustard cultivation forced the mustard manufacturers to look to other regions (mainly Marne, Somme, Seine-et-Oise, Loiret and Indre), for their supplies. Here also, cultivation also grew less and less profitable until it was finally abandoned, leaving the mustard makers no choice but to go outside of France, especially to Canada and the United States, where mustard is a more profitable crop for Canadian and American farmers.

A renaissance in Burgundian cultivation

The Burgundy Mustard Association, founded by the regional growers and manufacturers, in which the FALLOT COMPANY plays an active role, has, over the last few years launched a programme aimed at giving a new impetus to mustard cultivation in Burgundy.

While several attempts to reintroduce mustard cultivation to France have failed in the past, the new initiative aimed to increase its chances of success by also filing a PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) application, which was approved in late 2009.

The selection of a quality indicator

In fact, the members of the association have decided to offer a product that is distinct from Dijon Mustard, which has become a generic name which is produced just as well in a number of other countries such as Holland, the United States or Japan, as it is in France.

Manufactured from seed grown in Burgundy and combined with AOC Burgundy wine, "Burgundy Mustard" is a product deeply rooted in Burgundian soil.
To give the consumer a guarantee of the origins of the product they purchase, as well as to enhance the work carried out by an entire commodity sector, the association has decided to place its product within the framework of a certificate of conformity as set out in the Law of the 30th January 1994 relating to the recognition of food products through Protected Origin Identification.

The concrete objectives

By means of this I.G.P. framework, the BURGUNDY MUSTARD ASSOCIATION hopes to obtain the following highly concrete economic and technical objectives, namely:

- To offer consumers a product that has both guaranteed characteristics and origin,

- To make "BURGUNDY MUSTARD" a "Flagship" product for the various industrial brand names on both the French and export markets,

- To assist and support the programme for the renaissance of Burgundy mustard seed production,

- To develop the region's agro-economic fabric.