Fruit and veg prices soar

FRUIT and vegetable prices have soared this summer with fruit up 14% and vegetables 17% dearer – with courgettes rising the most, costing 32% more.

The increase was uncovered by Familles Rurales which carries out an annual survey of the prices of eight fruits and eight vegetables. It found that a “basket” of 1kg of each would cost €55.24 at the street market, €51.57 in a supermarket and €43.05 in a hard-discount store such as Lidl.

Coming after a wet and stormy spring with little sun in France, Familles Rurales president Thierry Damien blamed the “execrable spring weather” for the increases.

Biggest increases were the 32.6% for courgettes, with pears just behind on 31.4%. Nectarines showed the smallest increase, at 5.35%.

Only one fruit showed a price drop: cherries, which fell 12.42%.

The study also showed that organic fruit and vegetables were still significantly more expensive – 70% dearer for fruit and 73% for veg – but showed differing price increases this summer, with organic fruit being 19% more expensive and veg 15%.