Winter vegetable crisis in France

It is the end of the winter vegetable season, and Sylvain Legrand, President of the GPLM (Grouping of vegetable producers in the Manche) says ''we have never seen such a bad year''. Cabbage production dropped by 35%, leeks by 30% and carrots by half, due to a mild, rainy winter. ''The fields were full of water which made it impossible to use the machines. We had to pick the leeks by hand''.

Production dropped but prices did not rise. ''A kilo of leeks sells for around 18 - 23 cents. Production costs for producers is about 50 cents…''. Two years ago, leeks could be negotiated at €2/kilo! The Manche producers could have supplied the whole national market (an advantage of having mild weather when there is frost in other regions). However, this year the other regions did not experience a cold winter either.

Guy Saint-Lô, Farming Director of the Agrial Producers Organisation of (primary products: carrots and leeks) says that jobs are threatened and local economy relies on vegetable production.

Although carrot prices were correct, vegetables such as cauliflowers saturated the market. The President of the GPLM is asking for public authorities to action a ''natural calamity'' aid.

Chicory producers are also suffering with a 20% drop in sales. Due to a mild winter consumers turned to salad and tomatoes- which are now available year round. Chicory dropped from €0.85/kilo last year to €0.50 this year.

''At under €1.30/kilo sale price in large retailers, the producer is definitely selling at a loss'' says Daniel Bouquillon, President of the Union of French Chicory producers. As the leading European producer, France has seen its volume drop from 250,000 to 170,000 tons. The climate has been seen to reveal a far deeper crisis.