Project presentation
The Haute-Marne department is a declining rural area facing population outflow and deindustrialisation. Unemployment is high, particularly among women, and the population is ageing.
In the 1990s, the Régie Rurale du Plateau association was created by local organisations, elected officials, and citizens to make the territory more attractive. The association runs three integration projects: green space maintenance, market gardening, and restoration of dry-stone heritage. However, men are overrepresented in these programs. Following consultations with local stakeholders, Régie Rurale du Plateau decided to strengthen women’s employment by diversifying activities and creating a 100% women-led fruit processing branch.
A first successful pilot took place in 2021 in partnership with the local association Les Croqueurs de Pommes. Régie Rurale manages 13 orchards of apples, mirabelle plums, and other fruit trees. These orchards are provided by municipalities or private owners who can no longer maintain them. In 2023, the association aims to consolidate this fruit processing initiative with a group of women in integration programs. Beyond the social impact, the project also addresses environmental goals by preventing food waste and maintaining orchards that would otherwise be neglected.
A first successful pilot took place in 2021 in partnership with the local association Les Croqueurs de Pommes. Régie Rurale manages 13 orchards of apples, mirabelle plums, and other fruit trees. These orchards are provided by municipalities or private owners who can no longer maintain them. In 2023, the association aims to consolidate this fruit processing initiative with a group of women in integration programs. Beyond the social impact, the project also addresses environmental goals by preventing food waste and maintaining orchards that would otherwise be neglected. 
