French Onion Shortage Looms As Heatwaves Devastate Crops

France is facing shortages of onions and other fresh produce after successive heatwaves inflicted severe damage on crops across the country.

Growers have warned shoppers to expect reduced availability in the coming weeks following what the French produce sector has described as a “catastrophic year”, according to The Telegraph.

Onions are among the crops most seriously affected, alongside shallots, carrots, leeks, fennel, radishes and garlic. Soft fruit production has also suffered, with blueberries and strawberries included among the hardest-hit crops identified by Légumes de France, the trade organisation representing French vegetable producers.

The extreme conditions have created what has been described as a “hairdryer effect”. High temperatures combined with hot, dry winds draw moisture from plants faster than their roots can replace it from the soil, causing crops to wither or die within a short period.

Tomato production has also been badly disrupted. Before the heatwaves began, France had forecast in May that its tomato crop would reach 495,000 tonnes. However, Cyril Pogu, co-president of Légumes de France, said production had subsequently fallen by as much as 50 per cent this season.

Extreme heat has also decimated lettuce and baby-leaf crops, adding to concerns about the availability of fresh salad produce.

The warnings follow an exceptionally difficult growing period for French agriculture. Potential fresh vegetable harvests could fall by between 15 and 20 per cent, while up to half of young carrot crops in northern France had already been lost by early July, according to reporting based on French agriculture ministry assessments. Around 20 per cent of fruit orchards were also believed to have been affected. Le Monde

The full extent of the damage may not become clear until later crops are harvested. However, the losses already reported across vegetables, soft fruit and other agricultural sectors point to tighter domestic supplies and continuing pressure on French growers as the summer progresses.