The art of growing heirloom tomatoes
11 July 2025
🍅 Lagache puts the spotlight on La Coccinelle. Together, they look in the same direction
La Coccinelle, a family business for 3 generations, is located between Lyon and Valence. It has been run by Franck Figuet and his brother since 1984. A pioneer in sustainable and responsible agriculture, the company diversified its production in 1990 with heirloom tomatoes: cœur de bœuf, cœur de Crimée, Marmande, pineapple… These varieties, known for their exceptional flavours, are grown with respect for the environment and sustainable practices.
The company plants, cultivates, harvests, packages, transports and dispatches its products and manages its commercial activities. It markets its produce almost exclusively in the region, mainly to supermarkets.
Lagache is an exception in two respects: as a wholesaler and as a player on the Lille wholesale market! The partnership, launched barely a year ago, is based on shared values: quality, innovation and a commitment to CSR.
Sustainable agriculture and respect for the environment
For over 20 years, La Coccinelle has been committed to sustainable, HVE and organic farming. Every stage of production is designed to be ever more responsible, from sourcing from nurseries to packaging, with total traceability of products. The Figuet family is committed to complying with current standards and to making its practices part of a continuous improvement process.
Climate management: a key factor for optimum taste quality
Franck Figuet explains: “If a tomato is suffering, this has an impact on its taste. We choose the varieties that are best suited to our climate and that taste the best. To promote diversity and different flavours, we focus our production on growing old varieties such as cœur de bœuf, noire de Crimée, etc., and manage to cover the period from1 April to 10 November”.
Today, they are able to ‘manage the climate’ well, which means they can combine quality of flavour with yield. To ensure that the tomatoes are as ‘good as they can be’, some plots are planted in multi-hood greenhouses – and not under glass – with automatic irrigation management, regulated by sensors according to the weather. IT is key to this process.
Chemical-free agriculture
The choice of varieties and good climate management mean that we never need to use chemicals, and only very exceptionally plant protection products. Pests are managed organically, by introducing predatory insects into the crops.
Quality, innovation and CSR: a winning combination
This commitment guarantees exceptional tomatoes, combining respect for the product, the environment, taste quality and traceability, for the enjoyment of everyone, tomatoes included!
