It sits proudly in gardens, borders scrubland paths, and shapes landscapes with the tranquil majesty of a witness to time. The olive tree is much more than a tree: in the Gard, it is an emblem, a living heritage, a way of life.
The olive tree: a Mediterranean symbol with Gard roots
In the Gard region, the olive tree is at home. It thrives under the generous sun and the sometimes capricious mistral wind, anchoring itself in a limestone terroir ideal for its development.
A tree of peace, wisdom, and longevity, it embodies Mediterranean identity. Here, countless generations have grown up in the shade of its gnarled branches, their hands dipped in freshly pressed olive oil.
A production that has the wind in its sails…
The Gard department isn't the leading olive producer in France, but it's nonetheless a region of excellence. Every year, thousands of liters of extra virgin olive oil are produced here, respecting tradition. The Gard mills, often family-run, perpetuate ancestral expertise that attracts more and more gourmets and chefs.
Local olive growing is also labeled: Olive oil from Nîmes enjoys a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), a guarantee of quality and traceability.
A culture between tradition and modernity
Around Nîmes, Beaucaire, Uzès and Sommières, olive groves create landscapes that are as aesthetic as they are nourishing. Far from intensive agriculture, here we are talking about sustainable cultivation, short supply chains, respect for the land and promotion of heritage.
Festivals are dedicated to it, such as the traditional Olive Festival in Corconne, the Picholine Festival in Marguerittes, or the Olive Festival in Bellegarde. It's an opportunity to taste, share, and rediscover everything this legendary tree has to offer: olives, oils, soaps, tapenades, and more.
And Queen Picholine?
If one variety were to represent the Gard region, it would be this one: the Picholine. Small, green, crisp, and slightly spicy, it's as delicious as an aperitif as it is excellent in oil. Originally from Saint-Chamas, in Provence, it has found an ideal adopted land in the Gard region. Today, it's the most widely cultivated variety in the department. Its strong personality makes it a true ambassador for local products. In Terre d'Argence, the 2B cooperative (Beaucaire and Bezouce), chaired by Jean-Marie Etienne, promotes this olive and its oil, regularly winning awards at olive oil competitions.
The “2B Coop” in Beaucaire
In Beaucaire, the 2B Cooperative brings together passionate olive growers around traditional expertise. Each year, it presses local olives, primarily the Picholine variety, to produce an extra virgin olive oil with an authentic taste. Committed to a sustainable and local approach, the cooperative promotes the richness of the terroir and offers oils, tapenades, and local products for direct sale. A place of sharing, taste, and passion.
Nîmes AOP olive oil
The first olive oil to be awarded a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) in France, Nîmes olive oil is a symbol of Gard expertise. Produced primarily from the Picholine variety, it seduces with its intense aromas, slight bitterness, and distinctive fruity flavor. Produced in accordance with tradition, this oil reflects the identity of a terroir bathed in sunshine and the mistral wind. A guarantee of quality and origin, the PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) ensures rigorous traceability, from orchard to mill.
Rebirth of a resilient sector after the terrible frost of 1956
After the 1956 frost, which devastated the olive groves of southern France, the Gard olive industry had to reinvent itself. Many producers, faced with the loss of their trees, chose to replant. The industry gradually recovered with the creation of cooperatives, the modernization of mills, and the revaluation of traditional skills. From the 1990s onward, demand for quality local products helped revive olive growing. Obtaining the PDO “Huile d'olive de Nîmes” in 2004 marked a turning point, highlighting the revival and resilience of this crop!
