"France: “Storm destroys 15.000 hectares of productive land"

On the first and the fourth of July, the southwest of France was struck by severe weather. The department of Landes, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, suffered rain, wind, and hailstones the size of a fist. Herwig Dejonghe, owner of Antarctic Foods Aquitaine: “Our first estimates indicate the storm damaged 15.000 hectares (over 37.000 acres) worth of products.”

“Mostly beans, peas, carrots, field corn and sweet corn are grown in Landes. The peas had already been harvested, but the beans, carrots and corn endured a dire hit. Most of the growers who got hit are well insured against hail damage, but it remains a rather disappointing setback nevertheless.”

The hailstorm raged hardest in the east of Landes. Herwig’s company is situated in the west of the affected area. “This morning we held a short meeting regarding the heavy weather, and it would appear as though we didn’t suffer much damage.” Herwig is quite relieved. “A major part of my company burnt down. I’m quite alright without any further losses.”

Herwig: “A storm like this luckily barely ever occurs. They compare the storm to what happened in the winter of 1999, when forests were mostly hit.”