Diversifying on-farm activities: the CTCPA supports EARL KANDEL

The CTCPA helped EARL KANDEL diversify its on-farm business by launching a canning factory. Pauline CORDIER, co-manager, tells us more about this activity and our support.

"Nicolas adapted the training to my level and speed. He's a very good trainer. We had a good exchange. He's very responsive!"
"We have become CTCPA members. It's very interesting to have access to the industry's work!"

Introduce us to EARL KANDEL

EARL KANDEL is a family story. Located in Mairy sur Marne, near Châlons en Champagne, we've been farming for 4 generations. We began producing and selling strawberries in 2004.



Since then, we've set up a direct sales store where we offer farm produce (strawberries and red berries, rhubarb, jams, potatoes, garlic, onions, shallots, tomatoes, squash and a few other vegetables), as well as many regional products. You'll find craft beer, a wide range of terrines (pork, poultry, beef, veal or trout), prepared dishes (chaponnade, coq au vin, bolognaise or tripe, ...), snails, oil, flour, shortbread, Champagne lentils, seasonal vegetables, apples and pears, honey, vegetable and flower plants, herbal teas and spices, artisanal ice creams, local potato chips...

A few years ago, we started making jams from damaged fruit. This new activity led us to set up our own processing laboratory on the farm in the summer of 2022.

Our products are sold from our farm store, but also in small grocery stores, two producers' stores, a few bakeries and partner retailers.

Why did you contact the CTCPA?

We wanted to develop our offer beyond jam making. So I took several training courses on HACCP, good hygiene practices and vegetable processing. We then bought an autoclave.

In September 2022, I took part in a special day dedicated to canning organized by the CTCPA and Agria Grand-Est at the Université de Lorraine.

After hearing about the CTCPA during my training sessions and learning on this day that our structure was a national of the CTCPA, I decided to contact you!

How did the CTCPA support EARL KANDEL?

First of all, we've become CTCPA members, so we've started to have access to all the documentation made available to us. It's very interesting to have access to the industry's work!

I then discussed with Carla LUCET and Nicolas MARISSAL our technical requirements, what we needed to put in place to comply with regulations, as well as training in autoclave operation. Everything fell into place quickly and easily.
CTCPA mapped out our autoclave, provided training in autoclave operation and developed scales for our recipes.

How did the support go?

Everything went very well. The training was very clear. It took place directly at our place, on our equipment. This enabled me to get to grips with the equipment in the best possible way. What's more, Nicolas adapted the training to my level and speed. I already had a lot of the basics, given the training I'd already done.

So he was able to reiterate the basics, speed up on the points I knew and go into greater depth on those I hadn't mastered. Nicolas is a very good trainer. We had a good exchange. He's very responsive!

Nicolas also worked out the scales for our recipes. I'll have to contact him for our new recipes!

Where do you stand today?

We are working on developing new recipes to expand our range.
At the same time, our ambition is to open up the laboratory to other farmers so that they can come and process their products. This would enable us to optimize its use and reduce costs.

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CONTACT EARL KANDEL : 

• About us | La Fraise de Mairy (wordpress.com)


• Pauline CORDIER - earl.kandel@gmail.com

CONTACT CTCPA : 

• Carla LUCET - Project Manager, Eastern Development / National Start-up Manager - clucet@ctcpa.org


• Nicolas MARISSAL - FoodLab Manager / Technology Project Manager - nmarissal@ctcpa.org

The development of food products, processes and packaging is at the heart of our DNA. As a technical center, our mission is to identify, test and advise on innovations processes, products, ingredients, packaging for a organoleptic experience, and health of your consumers. You have a project? Please contact us!