Industry body Légumes de France issues warning after extreme weather destroys crops including onions, garlic, carrots and lettuce
Vegetable growers in France have reported “catastrophic” losses and warned of major shortages ahead, after three major heatwaves in three weeks reportedly destroyed a large proportion of the country’s open-field vegetable crops.
In some sectors, they said, losses could amount to half of the country’s total annual production volume.
The situation is likely to be compounded by similar losses elsewhere in Europe, according to industry body Légumes de France, which called on Emmanuel Macron’s government to compensate the most vulnerable suppliers.
“For French open-field vegetable production, this is turning into an annus horribilis,” said Sylvestre Bertucelli, the organisation’s director. “The third episode is still under way, but reports on the impact of the early-July heatwave are becoming clearer – and the situation is catastrophic.”
Losses to date are said to amount to thousands of tonnes each for crops including garlic, onions, shallots, leeks, lettuce, and carrots.
As a result, producer organisations already stand to lose tens of millions of euros, and several businesses could be forced to close either temporarily or permanently, Bertucelli said.
“Because of the lack of access to water, resowing and replanting will not be possible unless there is a major change in the weather within the next two weeks, which is not forecast,” he explained.
“Shortages can be expected in stores in the near term, as imports will not be able to make up the shortfall. A new commercial paradigm is emerging: scarcity.”
As well as calling for government support measures, Légumes de France has also asked buyers and distributors to relax their product specifications.
“A batch rejected today because of a minor visual defect that affects neither its taste nor its nutritional value will be a batch missing from the market tomorrow,” Bertucelli suggested. “You have been warned.”
