The increasing temperatures in France have led to a higher consumption of tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, peaches and nectarines. Bernard Miozzo from the joint-trade melon group in the South East says that when the weather is good sales of fresh products such as melons can triple.
Luc Barbier, President of the National Federation of Fruit Producers says that “given the choice between the heat or cold rain, we prefer the first choice that boosts consumption and gives fruit a better taste quality, thanks to better sunlight.” However, he explains that the risk is that the sun accelerates fruit and vegetable maturity too much, especially as at the moment the offer is slightly higher than what the market can take in. Retailers are emphasising fruit and vegetables grown in France, which have better traceability and quality for consumers.
Until recently melons have been the same price as last year, but some large retailers have been tempted to sell French melons with the same special offers as Spanish melons. For example, melons were being sold last weekend in Monoprix stores in Paris for €1. Bernard Miozzo says that “the large to medium supermarkets must understand that a producer needs to live off his products. Melons in Spain cost €0.20 to €0.30 less to produce than they do here.”
Eventually, the changes in temperature could be bad for some more fragile vegetables. Angélique Delahaye, producer in the Indre et Loire and European Deputy of the European People’s Party explains that “We risk running out of salad and fennel stocks which risk going to seed”.