The cold weather seen across France in recent weeks has had a marked impact on vegetable prices, according to reports – to the general contentment of the country’s beleaguered producers.
At Cristal market in Toulouse, in the south of France, leeks have risen to €2.60 per kilo, while some salads are going for €1.60 a piece, thanks to the effects of frost on the harvest, according to La Dépêche.
Supermarket prices were even higher, the news site added, sometimes double the price at the market.
Philippe Stisi, spokesperson for Rungis wholesale market in Paris, told Le Figaro newspaper that he expected prices of products like leeks, carrots, turnips and cabbages to soar at Rungis.
Vegetable production has been hardest hit in the north and centre of the country, with frost hampering growers’ ability to harvest the crop.
At the same time, the cold weather has boosted the popularity of dishes such as casseroles and soup, leading to an increase in demand for many winter vegetables.
The combined impact is a welcome increase in prices for many. At Brittany-based marketer Prince de Bretagne, cauliflowers have recently risen from a paltry €0.30-€0.60 to an impressive €1.00-€2.00, according to Le Télégramme.
