In France the cultivation of heads of lettuce and endive has greatly decreased during the present season. This is according to the French Ministry of Agriculture. At the moment the smaller quantities harvested are still frost damaged, however.
The growing area for lettuce for the 2011/2012 winter season decreased by about six percent to an area of 4,500 HA. The endive area decreased by twelve percent and is now 1,000 HA. The winter cultivation of both vegetable varieties is concentrated in the south-east of France. The sudden winter weather caused damage to the crops. This damage is estimated at 10 million Euro by the horticultural organisation of the region Pyrénéé-Orientales.
It is hoped that the endive plants will be able to somehow endure the icy northern wind. The loss of the tender lettuce varieties is very heavy, however. But not only the lettuce varieties suffered damage. Also artichokes suffered heavily because of frost. The total vegetative part above ground has in many cases been destroyed. With that about half of the estimated monetary loss is the result of the artichokes. Without doubt the combination of the cold weather and the wind has caused extreme damage.