In the 1950s, the raspberry was the symbol of Machilly, making a name for the town across France. It all began in the 1930s when Jules Vachoux, a talented gardener from Geneva, came to Machilly and planted the first raspberry bushes there. Back then, the Chablais land was abundant in molasse and glacial deposit, making it a very fertile place. The warm and humid summers meant that local farmers could produce several tonnes of red berries, following in the footsteps of Jules Vachoux.
In 1947, a cooperative was founded in the local area to manage the raspberry production that had really started to take off. This association gave the town’s economy a boost thanks to raspberry production. Thanks to the level of humidity in the Chablais soils, the production of this red berry reached a record high in 1957 with 1,900 tonnes produced, or half of the production for the whole of France! This marked the peak for this plantation, and the town gained the honourable title of ‘Raspberry Capital’. To be able to subcontract a part of production, the Lenzbourg factory was set up in Machilly. This jam-making company originally from Lyon therefore began transforming the raspberries into jams, coulis and even a natural fixing agent for perfumes. This economic development triggered the construction of a train station in Machilly so the products could be shipped all over France.
The village became more and more well-known but reached a turning point in 1962. The region was hit by a significant drought which had a serious impact on the harvest. Between the difficult weather conditions and a tough economic situation, the Lenzbourg factory was forced to close its doors.
Today, the town has managed to keep some of the legacy of this golden age and the heritage is deeply rooted in the traditions of the locals. The surprising history of the berry is kept alive thanks to the route that once linked the village to Lenzbourg factory, the ‘Route des Framboises’ (raspberry road). Today, there is only one farm left in Machilly that continues to uphold the reputation of this little local red berry.
