Why is the heat wave in Spain bad news for the price of fruit and vegetables in France?

Romain Rouillard / Photo credits: FREDERIC SCHEIBER / HANS LUCAS / HANS LUCAS VIA AFP 09:30 am, April 28, 2023

On Thursday, April 27, the thermometer still showed 36 degrees in Seville, in southern Andalusia. A suffocating atmosphere, in which the entire Iberian Peninsula has been immersed since the beginning of the week. Associated with the drought, which has hit Spain for several months, this meteorological episode could drain serious consequences including in France.

The France, which has the habit of massively sourcing fruit and vegetables from its Spanish neighbor, is likely to become disillusioned this year. This heat wave, combined with the glaring lack of rainfall, makes the production of nectarines, apricots and other cucumbers much more delicate. "For each species of plants, there are temperature optimums in which they can produce fruits and seeds," says Marie Simonin, a researcher at the National Institute of Agricultural Research. As a general rule, it is not recommended to expose these plants to temperatures above 30 degrees during the day.

Plants draw water from fruits to hydrate in case of heat

"A plant works like us. She drinks and sweats. But if she is more dehydrated than she has absorbed water, it creates stress. And it will therefore produce smaller fruits to the extent that it can draw water from this fruit to survive in case of drought," adds Laurent Deville, a farmer in Les Baux-de-Provence in the Bouches-du-Rhône.

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If fruit and vegetable production decreases on the other side of the Pyrenees, prices will rise mechanically. According to INSEE, that of vegetables has already increased by 12% between January 2022 and January 2023 in France. And the trend is not about to reverse in French markets and supermarkets, which are particularly dependent on Spanish exports. Almost all the peaches consumed in France come from the country of Cervantes, as well as three-quarters of zucchini and two-thirds of melons.

"There will undoubtedly be a drop in supplies and tensions on the availability of products. With this trajectory, prices will necessarily increase for zucchini, tomatoes, salads, peaches, nectarines and apricots that should arrive in France in May and June, "predicts, in the columns of the Parisian, Olivier Dauvers, journalist specializing in mass distribution. Last month, France AgriMer, the national establishment for agricultural and seafood products, reported a 5% drop in fresh fruit imports in January 2023 compared to last year. A reality "partly explained by the decrease in citrus imports from Spain".

What alternative solutions?

In such a context, all eyes are on French production. "But French production costs more. So the question is: what is going to be the acceptable price for the consumer?" said Frank Rosenthal, an expert in retail marketing. Especially since France, and more particularly the Mediterranean rim, is also facing drought. Laurent Deville, whose tomato production suffered considerably from the heat last summer, knows something about this. "We lost 2.5kg per square meter," he recalls.

It is difficult to imagine doing without Spain which, despite a downward trend, remains the main vegetable garden in France and Europe. As for Morocco, another major supplier of melons and leeks, its territory also has to deal with the lack of water. According to the local business newspaper Medias 24, 19 of the country's 20 largest cities were in rainfall deficit on March 20. "To ensure sufficient volume, we import. But the more you do that, the more dependent you become," Rosenthal said.