With hair as vibrant as the strawberries cultivated by her husband Jean-François, Sandrine Carletti is the mistress of the Maison that bears their name. And it’s their Charlotte strawberry that “makes its entrance,” alongside rose and yuzu, in Phyltres’ Gourmet Beauty Shot “Thirst for Youth.” A star selected for a delicious and effective casting dedicated to beauty and well-being.
Gariguette, Mara des Bois, Charlotte, Mariguette...
The French production sector has long favored the cultivation of these aromatic and flavorful red berries, found nowhere else in the world. In Lot-et-Garonne, these queens of red fruits grow in an extraordinary nursery: the Carletti family estate, created in 1991 and located in the village of Bourran (47), on the road to the Château des Ducs d’Aiguillon and writer Stendhal. “We will go and retire to the Château d'Aiguillon, between Agen and Marmande. It is said to be a land as beautiful as Italy.” (The Red and the Black). Registered with the Collège Culinaire de France since 2016, this beautiful Maison is the one Phyltres selected to produce its gastronomic beauty “Thirst for Youth” shots made with Charlotte strawberries, yuzu and French rose.
With its crunchy texture, candy-like flavor, heart shape and deep red color, this strawberry is the most luscious of all varieties. Julien Amat, chef in Agen and a great connoisseur of flavors, made no mistake in choosing to incorporate it into his recipe, selecting the Carletti Maison’s harvest.
A Craft with Perfect Taste
Focused on Made-in-France quality and confident in the ultra-freshness of short supply chains and direct sales, Sandrine and Jean-François Carletti have devoted themselves to a responsible, economical and ecological soilless cultivation of these indulgent, nostalgic fruits. Protected from pests (thrips and other mites) and kept warm inside their three-and-a-half-hectare greenhouses, the strawberry plants at the Carletti estate benefit from a reasoned, environmentally certified cultivation (High Environmental Value label).
Placed on supports in January, like suspended gardens, under Jean-François’ expert eye, the strawberry trays are fed water and fertilizer through drip irrigation systems to nourish the precious plants. After several warm weeks in the greenhouses, the flower stems appear and will transform into fruit a few months later.
“The trays are suspended at human height, making the picking conditions less strenuous,” explains the smiling and energetic Sandrine, deeply committed to worker well-being. The earliest variety is the Gariguette, which welcomes spring with its bright vermilion red. It is followed by the Charlotte, which produces all summer long.
“All strawberries are picked at full ripeness (a drop of sugar pearls on the stem) and by hand,” Sandrine continues. Pickers move through the rows with their carts, gently harvesting the strawberries and placing them directly into the trays.
Producing 150 tons of strawberries per year and supplying them exclusively to prestigious establishments (chefs, ice-cream makers, caterers…), the Carletti Maison experiments every year with new varieties to better meet its clients’ needs. “We test, and we learn from the results,” confirms Jean-François. Sandrine herself has successfully created delicious Gariguette, Charlotte and Mara des Bois confits. Perfect for spreading or drizzling over cakes. Yum!
Boosted by the vitamin C in their strawberries, the Carlettis have energy to spare as they work to share their delicious fruits beyond their region and integrate them into flavorful, beneficial recipes.