Since 2004, Les Calades is certified EUREPGAP and since 2007 GLOBALGAP; the BRC certification has been relatively new for the packing house.

Apple is a delicate fruit which requires a slow and delicate handling. Our apples are harvested by hand, taking care of not knocking them.

Then in the packing house, apples are bathed in clear water in order to avoid any shock before packing.

The harvest time begins in August and ends in November, with some change every year because of the weather conditions… It needs about 50 employees during this 5-month season.

Demanding methods

With respect to our environment, defending taste and quality, Les Calades guarantee the main points of the certifications specifications, especially:

• Yield limitation in having an appropriate pruning and a hand thinning: we count the exact apples number on each tree before thinning and after it to regulate the trees volumes.
• A production in « incorporated struggle » is done in the orchards in order to minimize the treatments and not use any noxious goods.
• The annual input of organic fertiliser in winter.
• The use of alternative methods against predators, like the system ALT’CARPO or the « sexual confusion » which are set in order to limit the bugs’ harmful impact on apples.
• The grass in every orchard rows to limit the ground erosion phenomenon and the respect of our water-tables.
• Accuracy of the geographic localization of each of our plot.
• The fruit harvest is well determined according only to fruit ripeness.
• Using after-harvest chemical products is purely forbidden.
• A high natural quality taste is purely respected (sugar rate and acid guarantees)
• Apples must be stocked in cold rooms for a maximum 24h after their harvest: regular controls on temperature avoid bad changes on apples quality and ease the mass preservation.
• Each batch after harvest is registered on software enabling a very good traceability, from the tree to the consumer.
• The packing, the labels on every apple, the orders preparation are done by skilled and attentive people.

–        This juice is the historical cocktail of the brand La Pomme des Calades.

We have made this juice for years, and its success has constantly risen.

This juice is made of three varieties of apples, a balanced cocktail of Chantecler, bicolours apples

and Granny:

The Chantecler is tasty (probably the best cooking apple variety)

The bicolours apples are sweet (the taste and the sweetness)

The Granny brings the bitterness (the quenching and refreshing sides)

– This juice is squeezed in a handcraft way with quality apples (all from CAT.1

and 2, no rotten or industry apples are used), all come from our production only.

The juice is dim as we did not want to filter it with paraffin.

Therefore it is a 100% pure juice (no added sugar, no preservative, and no water).

– Bottles are pasteurized: best before March 2017.

– They are packed in a box and there are 6 glass bottles of 1L in each box.

– There is no bar code on these bottles, and the label is on the front side only.

–         It is a juice made of two varieties, meaning a fine balanced cocktail of bicolours apples and acid ones.

– This juice is squeezed in a handcraft way with quality apples (all from CAT.1 and 2,

no rotten or industry apples are used), all come from our production only.

– The juice is dim as we did not want to filter it with paraffin.

Therefore it is a 100% pure juice (no added sugar, no preservative, and no water).

– Bottles are pasteurized: best before March 2017.

– They are packed in a box and there are 6 glass bottles of 1L in each box.

– To maximize the sales, we have put a bar code on the back of the

bottle: 3770004767007.

There is only one policy to work Calades: that quality work; then no matter the effort or resources in place, if the fruits are beautiful and good that must be made.

We have always favored human than machine work. Anyway, no technical means could be chosen at the expense of the quality of apples, so we devote all our energy to care for our trees, properly train our teams and many develop our expertise throughout the exploitation.

In any case the quantity overrides quality apples! We pick our example maturing varieties and ensure that no defect is apparent in our trays. Our customers for decades know: buy apple of Calades is believing!

In 1880, Lucien Donat bought a 4 ha land where he built his house and planted his first vineyard (the famous wine grapes Chasselas).

In 1935, the estate grew up and diversified in the market gardening (garlic, onions, potatoes and the famous melon from Cavaillon).

The spring frosts of 1945-48-50 and 51 were so rude that the most of the vineyard died, for the benefit of the market gardening. The estate increased again of 10 ha and in 1956 the very first apple trees were planted. Finally, the winter frosts of February 56 and December 62 have marked the end of the Chasselas and of the market gardening in the Calades farm.

Led by the same passion for the land, the Lucien Donat’s descendants chose to specialise in the apple. Today the estate consists of 45 ha with a range of 9 apple varieties, enabling the harvest and the business from August to December, and giving the choice of a wide range of tastes.

For 5 generations this family farm, located at the bottom of the

Vaucluse Mounts, near l’Isle sur la Sorgue, has specialized in

producing apples since 1956, is situated.

Through this Website, the apple orchards of Les Calades will reveal you their stories

and characteristics. The taste of our 9 varieties and the respect for the environment

are the key words of our production. The Certifications we have undertaken since

2007 embody these values…