The French fishing industry has an opportunity this week to educate young French consumers about the country’s seafood products as part of a nationwide “Semaine de la goût" initiative.
The event, which was launched Monday by Bruno Le Maire, the French farm and fisheries minister, aims to educate French tastebuds — particularly children’s — in French foods, including history, tradition and ”savoir-faire.”
"Sugar, meat, milk products and the fish supply chain, both farmed and wild, are at the heart of taste. They are anchored in the food habits of each of us," said a coalition of industry and government bodies, including the state's fishing and agriculture institution, FranceAgriMer.
According to national statistics from OFRIMER, French fishery and aquaculture products were valued at EUR 1.7 billion in sales, with more than EUR 1 billion hailing from fresh landings. Fish farming contributed EUR 161 million to the total value of seafood sales in France.
The “Semaine de la gout” celebrates its 20th anniversary this year and runs until 18 October.
In Coulogne, in the northern Pas-de-Calais region of France and home to the ports of Boulogne and Calais, fish farmers will invite school children to blind tastings of their fish to glean feedback. School cafeterias will test a range of farmed fish products.
Fishmongers across France have also joined the initiative. In addition to stakeholders in the country's fishing industry, a selection of restaurants, hotel and hospitality colleges and work canteens have all hooked up to the event, said FranceAgriMer.
To heighten public awareness about French fish products as part of the initiative, chefs will offer 6,000 “taste lessons” to children in primary schools across the country, and 1,000 ”taste workshops” have been set up nationwide for adults.
