Groupement Mousquetaires launches drought support plan for French farmers

Groupement Mousquetaires has announced a ten-point emergency plan to support the French agricultural sector following recent heatwaves and droughts. The initiative is designed to protect food sovereignty and primarily assists fruit, vegetable, flower, and livestock growers.

Key measures include the launch of the ‘Petit calibre, grand soutien’ range by Intermarché and Netto, which will sell produce that does not meet standard visual or size requirements, such as apples. The retailer is also relaxing specifications for French produce to allow for the sale of crops affected by climate conditions.

To maintain the economic balance of farms, the group will compensate suppliers for lost harvests at prices necessary to sustain their operations, while Intermarché and Netto plan to reduce their own margins to avoid passing full cost increases to consumers. Additionally, the group will hold commercial operations for surplus crops, such as selling French cucumbers at cost for a three-week period starting September 21.