France: Melon production down 10%, says Agriculture Ministry

Every summer, it's the star on the plates. For melon producers, the period from May to September is decisive. But this year, French production is estimated to be down 10% year-on-year, to 280,500 tonnes for the 2024 campaign, according to a report published in July by Agreste, an agency of the Ministry of Agriculture. The cause was "unfavorable" weather conditions last spring with rain, low temperatures and a lack of sunshine that delayed the growth of melons. "The weather disrupted pollination, growth, fruit set and increased health pressure," Agreste explains in its report. A few weeks ago, strawberry plants were also disrupted by the weather, causing concern among producers. Also readFruits and vegetables: their price is a deterrent for Europeans, who want to consume more An "atypical" season The 2024 melon season is therefore particularly "atypical" with a production peak that only occurs after mid-July. On the shelves, consumer enthusiasm was also slowed by the weather. With ...