Heatwave pushes up fruit and vegetable prices across France
From smaller apples to ruined vegetables, growers are struggling as the heat takes its toll on production
Published
France’s ongoing heatwave and drought are putting pressure on fruit and vegetables, with farmers reporting smaller harvests, damaged produce and crop losses, while shoppers are paying the price.
Courgette prices were 32% higher in July than a year earlier, while tomatoes rose 31% and green beans 24%, according to consumer group Familles Rurales. The group said the increases were among the biggest recorded this year.
They also found the price of fresh fruit has increased by 54% since 2015, while fresh vegetables are up 62%.
“Fruit and vegetables have therefore become one of the food categories whose prices are rising the fastest, even though they are at the heart of public health recommendations,” the consumer group said.
Agreste, the Ministry of Agriculture's statistics service, in a regional report for Nouvelle-Aquitaine noted that the heatwave had slowed fruit growth, caused sunburn on exposed apples and led to local production losses of between 5% and 15%. Strawberries and tomatoes have also been affected by the extreme temperatures.
In some areas, the damage is even more severe. A vegetable grower in Aveyron was forced to discard peppers, lettuce and courgette after they were damaged by the heat. Of 400 kilograms of green beans harvested, she said she was able to save only 10 kilograms, Franceinfo reports.
Another apple grower in Loire-Atlantique said the size of some apples had been “divided by three” because of heat and drought, reports TF1. The grower estimated that 75% of the production at the orchard was compromised.
These consequences due to the extreme weather have been witnessed across a range of products including apples, tomatoes, courgette, green beans, peppers and lettuce, while even summer fruits like peaches and apricots can be affected by the conditions.
Produce damaged by heat is often unsuitable for sale or may deteriorate more quickly, adding to the pressure on producers and contributing to higher prices.
The situation becomes even more difficult because farmers need more water during periods of extreme heat, while drought-related restrictions can limit how much they are allowed to use.
Some growers are adapting by irrigating where possible, changing varieties or adjusting their growing practices. But these measures cannot remove the immediate pressure from heat, drought and rising production costs.
