Lessay: this farm facilitates professional integration through the cultivation of small fruits sold locally

Greenhouses, a beautiful stone dwelling, two ponds… welcome to the Ferme du P’tit Marigny, named after the place where it is nestled, at the exit of Lessay, on the road to La Haye-du-Puits.

A farm specializing in cultivation of small fruits : strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, currants, blackcurrants, blueberries and other haskapberries, planted on almost five hectares, outdoors and in greenhouses.

A dozen employees in professional integration

At the end of this May morning, the strawberry harvest is already well underway. We come across workers, their arms loaded with their harvest. It’s time for a coffee break for the team.

In the break room are Domitille Chenot and Estelle Leclerc. The first is director of the Carentan Employment Area Association (Abec), the second supervises this integration association through the economic activity on which this farm depends.

Created in 2022, it is managed by this structure and welcomes around a dozen employees.

“These are people with damaged life paths, often far from employment,” explains Domitille Chenot. They are beneficiaries of RSA or even long-term unemployed.  We also find young people in great difficulty, explain the supervisors, as well as disabled workers. » Women and men de 18 à 64 ans.

Find your way to employment

Objective, for the association: to enable them to find your way back to employment. An approach which involves a work contract on the farm, of varying length, but also through socio-professional support with integration advisors.

 We have some great outings, Domitille and Estelle are delighted. People find work, on fixed-term or permanent contracts, after their time with us. »

Every year, employees produce several tons of berries. “They are grown without any chemicals and all the work is done manually,” explains Estelle Leclerc.

A production sold locally

Since 2023, part of the production has been transformed on site into jams, coulis, and nectars. Fruits and preparations that the farm sells locally, to the ice cream makers, pastry chefs and brewers.

“We also hold three weekly markets, in Agon-Coutainville, La Haye du Puits and Gouville-sur-Mer, from April to mid-September.â€

The products are also sold during one-off events: Coutances agricultural show; plant fair at the Château de Crosville-sur-Douve or Gratot…; Plants and Flavors at the Manoir du Tourp ; Lessay Fair, etc.

Jams, coulis and nectars can be found in around twenty delicatessens, cheese shops and wine merchants in the region: in La Crème de Saint-Lô, in Saint-Lô; At La Ferme Coutanaise, in Coutances or at Table et Vin, in Villedieu-les-Poëles, to name but a few.

“We are looking for new small points of sale,” says Estelle.

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