France and Belgium face lettuce shortages as heatwave drives prices up

Record heatwaves reaching 45 °C in parts of France have devastated lettuce production, emptying supermarket shelves and causing historic price spikes. Farmers such as Régis Chevallier, president of the Nantes growers' federation, report that extreme temperatures have scorched leaves and halted seed germination, leaving the market with scarce, lower‑quality lettuce.

In neighboring Belgium, similar drought conditions are disrupting vegetable supplies. Retail manager Victoria Vanderlinden notes that deliveries now arrive in irregular waves, forcing stores to source from a wider range of growers. Grower Amaury Vanhulle explains that limited irrigation capacity forces prioritisation of water‑intensive crops, reducing yields and size of vegetables such as pumpkins. Both countries see consumers stockpiling and facing higher grocery bills as fresh produce becomes harder to obtain.