Much, much less noise. The others were a disaster for the neighbours. I always compare them to a helicopter... but this is nothing like that.

Frédéric Bergin took over the family business in 1996 and now farms 40 hectares of orchards in Savoie, at an altitude of between 350 and 500 metres, with 30 hectares of apple trees and 9 hectares of pear trees. The farm has grown steadily, from 18 hectares to nearly 40 hectares today.

In addition to his farming activities, Frédéric Bergin is also president of the Savoie Fruit Producers and vice-president of the union representing producers from the two Savoie departments, with a particular involvement in the management of the Poire de Savoie PGI.

Frost, the main risk factor for production

Under normal conditions, the farm's annual production reaches 1,500 to 1,700 tonnes of fruit. However, over the last five years, repeated episodes of spring frost have had a significant impact on yields, with one year falling to only 650 tonnes.

‘Each time, it was the frost that caused us problems.’

Although the farm is now well equipped to deal with hail and has an effective irrigation system to combat drought, sprinkler frost protection has its limitations: high water consumption, reduced effectiveness during prolonged frosts and the inability to protect all plots simultaneously.

Why invest in a Frostboss frost protection tower?

On some plots, frost protection irrigation can only protect 2 hectares, leaving the rest of the orchards exposed during critical nights.

It is in this context that Vergers de Châteauneuf chose to install a Frostboss frost protection tower to complement the existing irrigation system.

‘Watering for 7, 8 or 10 nights in a row during full bloom is not good either. The tower provides a real alternative.’

Results measured from the first trials

Although the tower has not yet been used during a severe frost episode, field tests quickly demonstrated its effectiveness.

During a trial carried out at dawn, when temperatures drop the most:

• Initial temperature at the lowest point: 1.2°C
• One hour after the tower was started up: 2.7°C

This represents a temperature increase of more than 1°C, whereas the outside temperature would normally have continued to fall.

‘It's a very interesting test, especially in these conditions.’

A major advantage: silence

Beyond thermal performance, Frédéric Bergin highlights a key feature of Frostboss technology: its extremely low noise level.

Having been able to compare it with traditional blade-type anti-freeze towers during group demonstrations, the conclusion is clear.

‘Much, much less noise. The others were a disaster for the neighbours. I always compare them to a helicopter... but this is nothing like that.’

This low noise level is a decisive advantage for farms located near residential areas.

A high-performance solution adapted to current challenges

For Vergers de Châteauneuf, the Frostboss anti-frost tower is a reliable complementary solution that reduces dependence on water, improves protection against spring frost and preserves good neighbourly relations.