André Leclercq, from the eponymous farm located in Verlaine, is very proud to have participated in the International Oil Competition in Paris (AVPR) a few weeks ago. This allowed it to win first place for its hazelnut oil under the noses of producers all over the world.
“I sent some samples of hazelnut oil to Paris in Aprilhe explains with a mischievous smile. It had been over a year since I decided to produce it, but I really wanted to know where I stood in relation to other producers. And it was bingo! “
Don’t think this gave our farmer a big headache though. “Actually, I wanted to diversifyhe explains. Going beyond our usual production, which remains the breeding of Belgian Blue White and classic crops such as cereals, beets, flax, potatoes and canned peas. And then we also sold walnuts and hazelnuts produced by the many trees scattered across our pastures. The idea to make oil was born from the visit of a customer who had bought ten kilos of nuts as a gift for one of her acquaintances who made oil. “
The Afasca Checklist
The idea was there, we still had to be able to realize it. “I searched the internetsays André Leclercq. I then managed to make a few bottles and share them with the family. “ The decision had been made, but we still had to go through the many twists and turns in the rules to sell the production. “Afsca made a checklist for me to get off to a good startcontinues the Verlaine producer. Because we are not aware of all the current standards, if nothing else, for example bottles which must be able to contain food. And then there was also a production schedule to respect. “
Investment in equipment was also the subject of intense reflection: which machines to buy and with what production capacity? “We started by cracking the walnuts and hazelnuts by handsmiles André Leclercq. I then bought a circuit breaker, it comes from Slovakia. And then we needed a sorter to separate the kernels from the shells, and of course a press. “
Everything was not simple, especially when the first bottlings revealed a veil over the contents. “I contacted a laboratory in Liège to find out what it was all aboutexplains the manufacturer. These were suspended microfibers which didn’t change the flavor of the oil, but it wasn’t very pretty once it was bottled.” It was then enough to rectify the situation by going through filtering.
The quality of the country Hesbaye
Today, André Leclercq can look forward to the future with genuine optimism. Even if he doesn’t really know what turn his production may take, be it hazelnut oil or walnut oil. The farmer is well aware that if he wants to move up the market in terms of the number of bottles delivered, he is still dependent on the supply of raw materials. Hazel and walnut trees, although quite numerous in the region, cannot supply thousands of bottles. “The trees we know are more than a hundred years old and are regeneratingexplains André Leclercq. I’m also trying to reproduce hazelnut trees using the layering technique.”
Because let’s be clear: this first prize won in Paris for hazelnut oil from Leclercq is undoubtedly due to the quality of the Hesbaye soil, which undoubtedly allows the hazelnut or walnut to present incomparable flavors.
Outperforms a lot of other oils…
Hazelnut oil won a great competition organized by the Agency for Valorisation of Agricultural Products (AVPA). Wanting to assess the quality of their oils, the producers of Ferme Leclercq therefore decided to participate in the AVPA international oil competition in Paris with their hazelnut oil. This competition brings together producers from many different countries, and the oils are tasted blindly by oil professionals, taste experts and informed amateurs.
When we win like this, in the single variety category, in front of producers from Russia, Taiwan, Italy, China or France, it gives us pride, especially since the hazelnut oil from Ferme Leclercq has also surpassed sesame, coconut, sunflower or camellia oils among others. If four other producers also won the gold medal, it was hazelnut oil that came out first in the points series.
“We could have done the same with our walnut oilsmiles André Leclercq afterwards. I don’t know if we would win with her as well, but I think we also had a good chance.”
Don’t they say appetite comes with eating?
No production targets yet
We understand the thoughts of André Leclercq, who admits that he is at a bit of a crossroads with his oils: increase production and from then on find above all other customers such as supermarkets, or continue this still very artisanal approach, in any case regarding to production? And then the problem lies upstream of production: finding enough hazelnuts and walnuts to be sure to increase the number of bottles. “Let’s go step by stepsummarizes the producer. Although I know there are enough walnut trees in the region, this is not always the case for hazelnuts. And then you don’t need anyone.”
“I’m waiting for the labels”
At the Verlaine farm, we observe, we wonder, we examine the region. Especially since although orchards are legion in Hesbaye, it is not yet the same for hazelnut trees. “I know we planted a lot of them in Hannut”, says André Leclercq. That was actually the case last fall on the occasion of Arbor Day. But was it with the aim of launching in the oil niche?
As for the dry matter of the production (the husks), it was previously given to eat to the calves, who loved it. Today it is marketed as nut flour, which is added to traditional flour.
Finally, where can you find these famous oils? Apparently at the Leclercq farm in Verlaine, and also at the Schalenbourg maid farm in Haneffe.
“For continuous productionsmiles André Leclercq, I am waiting for the reproduction of this gold medal from the competition so that I can reproduce it on the labels.”
>> Ferme Leclercq, Grand Route 1, Verlaine. Information on 0494/306700
