David Potereau
An animal: A lion. “My astrological sign, and it matches my personality. ”
A tree: A deeply rooted oak.
A dish: A beautiful plate of local cheeses, with a good glass of wine.
A colour: Blue.
A song: “Child in Time” by Deep Purple.
A film: Everything by Quentin Tarantino. “Because they’re also rock ‘n roll! ”
An object: A pen. “Because writing last when speech disappears. ”
An item of clothing: A relaxed but elegant jacket.
A sport: Mountain Biking. “So I can let loose. ”
A tasty profession
We have a compelling and exciting business that demands organisation, rigour and availability. I work about 50 hours a week, and it flies by! On Monday, I organise the work for the week with my cultivation and labour managers. We take stock of the day's instructions with the team of permanent and seasonal staff. I check in on the crops to ensure that the plants are healthy. Based on my observations and those of my head of cultivation, I adjust the watering frequency, temperature and brightness on the greenhouse’s climate computer. Then we look over the weather for this week. After that, I go to trellis or trim plants with my workers.
Finally, every week we have a visit from Savéol technicians. Their advice, and that of my vegetable grower colleagues, is valuable to me as I work to improve my crops. Sharing information is important because we work with living things.
SAVÉOL ENERGY
When the time came to set up his business, David Potereau chose a cooperative model. “I have always thought about launching my business,” he explains, and I liked the support for the creation of businesses offered by the Savéol system, based on sharing.” The 26-year-old grower was then armed only with 3 years of experience as a head of cultivation and one year as assistant head of cultivation in the Netherlands. His project, approved by the board of directors, was supported by his bank and he built a 1.5 ha tomato greenhouse. In 2005, after 3 seasons, he had already doubled the surface area of his farm and he joined forces 5 years later with friends to launch a new 5 ha operation. “In 2008, I joined the board. I had received so much support that I wanted to give back some of this energy to the cooperative. I started by being in charge of energy issues. Goal: To find innovations in order to offer the cheapest and most environmentally-friendly energy to our vegetable growers, particularly as part of Carboogreen”.1 He is now the treasurer of the cooperative.
“The cooperative spirit is in my blood and being able to get involved through taking on different responsibilities related to Savéol’s future is important to me.”
This solidarity is explained by the cooperative's geographical situation, an isolation Finistere location that encourages the judicious use of available resources. His time is split between caring for his plants and monitoring cooperative projects. One foot in the greenhouse, one foot in the head office; a balance that lets him thrive and offer innovative solutions. So what will Savéol do in the years to come: “People are at the heart of the cooperative. Our strength is the group and the encounters that happen there, sharing the values of the growers who created Savéol, the flavour of the product, the passion for the craft”.
1 The body responsible for purchasing gas for Savéol producers