Fête de la Bonnotte

The Bonnotte: a potato like no other in the world

In the world of gourmets and gastronomes, the Bonnotte de Noirmoutier holds a special place. This ancient variety of early potato, whose production is limited to a few hectares on the island of Noirmoutier, is considered one of the rarest and most precious potatoes in the world. Its history is one of resurrection: the variety, which had almost disappeared at the end of the 20th century, was saved and relaunched in the 1990s by the island's producers, grouped within the Coopérative Agricole de Noirmoutier, who rediscovered the original seeds and revived traditional cultivation techniques.

An irreplaceable island terroir

What makes the Bonnotte absolutely unique is the irreducible marriage between this variety and its terroir. The island of Noirmoutier offers an exceptional microclimate, with mild winters, early springs, and generous Atlantic light, which allow for a harvest as early as the beginning of May — several weeks before other French early potatoes. But it is above all the seaweed — marine algae harvested on the island's beaches — used as a natural fertilizer for centuries, that gives the Bonnotte its unique character: a fine and melting flesh, a delicate, almost transparent skin, and above all this slightly nutty, iodized taste that is unlike any other.

The Bonnotte does not tolerate long-distance transport or storage: it must be consumed within days of its harvest, which makes it a product intimately linked to the island and the present time. This fragility, combined with its rarity — total annual production does not exceed a few tens of tons — makes it an exceptional product, prized by connoisseurs and chefs.

From the Drouot sale in 1996 to the myth of the world's most expensive potato

The international reputation of the Bonnotte was born from a media sensation: on April 20, 1996, during a charity sale at the Drouot hotel in Paris, a lot of 5 kg of Bonnottes was sold for 15,000 francs (approximately €2,300) to a private individual. This record price went around the world and established the Bonnotte as «the most expensive potato in the world» in gastronomic media. This exceptional Drouot sale is not intended to be renewed every year, but it remains a strong symbolic landmark: it marked the starting point for the commercial rebirth of the variety and the notoriety of the Coopérative de Noirmoutier.

A popular festival to the rhythm of the harvest

Beyond the myth, the Bonnotte Festival is above all a great popular celebration that brings together islanders and visitors in a spirit of conviviality and sharing. Organized every year in early May by the Coopérative Agricole de Noirmoutier with the support of the Jeunes Agriculteurs, the day unfolds in three parts. In the morning, in the fields of the Jeunes Agriculteurs, participants take part in the manual harvest of Bonnottes, a family and intergenerational activity where young and old alike plunge their hands into the sandy soil to extract the precious tubers. In the afternoon, a twelve-kilometer bike rally takes participants on a discovery of the island: solving riddles, meeting locals, observing beaches, salt marshes, and typical villages. In the evening, in the Cooperative's courtyard, nearly 2,000 people gather around pan-fried Bonnottes and grilled sardines from Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, accompanied by sea shanties, Vrignaud potato vodka cocktails, and live music.

A symbol of Noirmoutrine identity

The Bonnotte has become much more than an agricultural product: it is an identity symbol for the inhabitants of Noirmoutier, an emblem of their island, its history, and its unique character. The Bonnotte Festival is the moment when this pride is expressed collectively, where the island celebrates what makes it unique. It is also a beautiful example of how an agricultural cooperative can enhance its heritage to make it a driver of economic and cultural development, by preserving ancient know-how and putting it at the service of a contemporary collective project.