The Minister of Agriculture announced on Tuesday that the French government will finance a €200,000 campaign to promote French fruit. Prices have been collapsing due to a simultaneous influx of French production and that of other European countries.
The Minister explained the difficult situation: ''It is linked to the fact that all production from Spain and France arrives on the market at the same time and that the climate at the start of July did not really favour fruit consumption''.
"A meeting with major retailers will take place on Thursday at the Ministry of Economy in order to set up 'more equitable relations'. But this question should also be treated on a European scale'' stated the Minister.
Robert Olive is the PS deputy in the Pyrénées-Orientales, the largest peach producing department in France. He claims that the retailers have not yet used ''Origine France'' labels on products and that excess stock is creating low prices. Peaches and nectarine prices have decreased 6% in June compared to the last five years. Apricot prices were already down by 3% a month ago compared to the 2009-2013 average, yet harvest is expected to be 30% higher.