Interview by Andréa Marcelli, manager of Soil Seed
For Sol Semilla, ecology is also social: adopting good relationships with our producers, our suppliers, and our resellers is an integral part of a positive construction of our environment.
Meetings are woven through interest in others and give meaning to our daily work.
Marie-Brigitte directs the Organic Eau Vive store in Hossegor. She shares with us her passion, her values, her desire to make her entrepreneurial approach virtuous. A very nice meeting.
Andréa: Switching to organic in a person's life is akin to a real change in sensitivity and a real commitment. What is the journey that led you to this change?
Marie-Birgitte Anty: I was lucky to have had two grandmothers who only treated with plants; without having studied, they were real herbalists! I still remember picking wild thyme with them or making mustard or cabbage poultices. They introduced me to this knowledge. I grew up in the Gers eating mainly garden produce, poultry from the farm... It is thanks to this education that my connection to Nature was established, and my respect for it...
Andrea: …the people who inspired you, were they from the family?
Marie-Birgitte Anty: Absolutely. I am of Italian origin and proud of it! I received a Judeo-Christian education, emphasizing the importance of family, but also respect for our environment and attention to what we eat. We lived on a farm, we did not process anything, we respected the seasons.
Andrea: Have you identified an evolution of the organic consumer and their expectations? More generally, how do you see the future of specialized organic networks?
Marie-Brigitte:
Today, large retailers are increasingly interfering in our sector. We will have to find a way to differentiate ourselves from them with labels such as Nature et Progrès, for example.As far as the consumer is concerned, it is our role to guide them towards greater awareness of their environment: respecting the seasons as much as possible despite the pressure of business and a demand accustomed to having everything, right away, would be a good start.
Andrea: What are your tips for living better?
That a food can also be considered as a medicine. Hippocrates already said it more than 400 years ago with Jesus Christ. For the interior to reflect the exterior, we must also take care of it by eating well.
Andrea: If you had to choose a superfood, which one would it be and why?
I think more about what we need. We need vitamin D, Omega 3, magnesium and vitamin C. These are the four pillars for me. Brain and body. I use a lot of Nigella oil, an exceptional food.
