Our farmers:

Visiting Fouhren

André Zewen

In the canton of Vianden, walnuts have always played a major role. André Zewen was aware of this when he planted his first walnut trees over 40 years ago. Today, the organic farmer from Fouhren has 1,150 trees on 13 hectares in addition to his 40 ewes. In a normal year, these trees produce up to 10 tons of nuts. Two thirds of them are sold in bags and with the rest, the smaller ones, André Zewen produces organic nut oil.

The harvest takes place over 4 weeks in October. André Zewen can gather the bulk of the nuts with his machine, except on some hills. André Zewen’s nut production is a one-man business.

“I still produce a little mutton for the organic butcher Niessen, but I want to concentrate more and more on nut production. So far I can manage everything on my own. If I need a hand, my neighbour helps me out,” explains the passionate nut producer. His nut production has been bio-certified since 1998.

“The way in which an organic product is produced comes easily to me,” says the organic farmer from Fouhren. Sustainability in agriculture is extremely important to André Zewen: “I practise a form of agroforestry because for me trees play an essential role in agriculture. 

They are good for biodiversity and for the soil and they ensure the creation of a good microclimate! I think it’s a shame that agroforestry is not used much more. It has so much to offer.” 

Why buy locally?

“People decide with their purchasing behaviour what type of agriculture we have here in Luxembourg. They also decide whether a niche production in Luxembourg is feasible at all!” so the nut producer, who has noticed this year that the competition from abroad with cheaper products has increased enormously.

You can order the nut oil and the nuts directly from the producer and go pick them up in Fouhren. André Zewen’s products can also be found in the local health food stores as well as in various small partner shops.

On the website www.zewen.lu you can also find some great recipes that you can cook at home with André Zewen’s nut products.

People should see faces behind the products, and not just a price.

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