Argenteuil, France, where Emile Pothron was born. His family had once owned large vineyards in the area but were wiped out in 1888 when Phylloxera decimated grape vines throughout Europe. The family were then forced to become labourers on their land. Emile was once of fourteen children and, when the boys were twelve years-old, they were expected to leave school and work in the vineyards with their father.
Another cash crop in the early days was the large white asparagus which was such a delicacy in the Parisian restaurants.