French Melon Output Holds at 4,000 Tons a Day as AIM Rejects Heatwave Shortage Claim
Updated
Updated · FreshPlaza.com · Jul 6
French Melon Output Holds at 4,000 Tons a Day as AIM Rejects Heatwave Shortage Claim
1 articles · Updated · FreshPlaza.com · Jul 6
Summary
French melon supply is slightly short and prices have risen, but AIM says the imbalance stems from spring weather swings rather than the June heatwave.
Intense heat followed by abrupt rain disrupted field consistency and harvest schedules, leaving fewer melons on the market since last week just as hot weather lifted demand.
4,000 tons of melons are still being produced each day, and AIM says talk of a shortage in three to four weeks is premature because planting and harvesting continue weekly.
Localized losses have hit some non-irrigated areas, especially in Poitou where more than half of melon fields lack irrigation, but AIM says the national impact remains limited.
AIM still warns of possible indirect heatwave effects on yields — including fruit drop, poor development of young melons and weaker pollination — while saying consumption will depend on the weather.