In recent months, food has become the main driver of inflation ahead of energy, with an average rise in prices for the first category of 14.9% in April in one year, compared to +7% of the second, according to INSEE.
But not all food products are affected in the same way. Regarding fruit and vegetables in particular, prices seem to have risen less than those of other departments in recent months, according to surveys carried out in supermarkets and medium-sized stores by FranceAgrimer and broadcast by the parisian.
The 250-gram basket of gariguette strawberries, for example, saw its price drop from 3.12 euros in April 2021, to 3.21 euros in April 2022, then to 3.18 euros in April 2023, that is, relative stability. The price of 500g of standard French strawberries, on the other hand, took 12 cents between April 2022 and April 2023 and even 29 cents for those from abroad.
The average price of cucumbers (+3 cents in a year) or 250 grams of cherry tomatoes from France (+3 cents) has increased very little. The kilo of French zucchini even dropped, going from 2.95 euros to 2.48 euros between April 2022 and April 2023. The same happens with the kilo of round tomatoes, which cost 27 cents less than a year ago (3 .62 euros).
favorable weather
If fruits and vegetables are less exposed to inflation than other food products, it is mainly due to the weather, which plays a key role in price formation. However, so far the temperatures have been good for production, with no frost or hail that could have interrupted the harvests.
It should also be remembered that France imports 70% of the fruit and 30% of the vegetables it consumes from countries that charge much lower prices, which encourages French farmers to contain prices in the face of competition, and therefore to limit skyrocketing. .
However, it is too early to claim victory. While fruit and vegetable prices appear to have calmed in recent months, this summer’s dreaded drought could reverse the trend. Also, fruits and vegetables are separate products. In food as a whole, INSEE does not expect a drop in inflation before the end of the summer, in the best of cases. That is why the government has asked distributors to extend the anti-inflation quarter and manufacturers to reopen trade negotiations so that the first price cuts are visible at the beginning of the school year.
Source: BFM TV
