Except for cherries, which are rarer on the shelves due to spring frost, most of the fruits and vegetables sold in France have returned to a level close to that before the pandemic, according to the Familles Rurales association in its annual report published on Friday.
A price decrease of about 8% in one year
“After a record year 2020 in terms of prices, most products in our basket have returned to prices close to those of 2019,” reports the consumer protection association in a press release. “Except for cherries, prices have generally decreased by -8% between June 2020 and June 2021 (-4% for fruits and -11.5% for vegetables),” specifies Familles Rurales.
In detail, the prices of organic fruits have generally dropped by 5%, while those of conventional fruits have decreased by 3%. However, for apricots – which also suffered from frost – and apples, a significant price increase is observed (+18% and +9% respectively). Melons, on the other hand, have seen their price decrease by 21%. On the vegetable side, prices of organic products have dropped by 5% and those of conventional vegetables by 18%.
A “fruit and vegetable voucher” for the most needy?
Familles rurales conducted, from June 15 to 30, 111 price surveys in hypermarkets, supermarkets, discount stores, and organic shops, thanks to a team of 83 “consumer observers” spread across 38 departments. The calculation is based on a basket including eight fruits (apple, melon, apricot, strawberry, peach, banana, lemon, watermelon) and ten vegetables (eggplant, carrot, zucchini, green bean, lettuce, green pepper, potato, cluster tomato, cucumber, yellow onion).
Faced with certain prices that “reach new heights” and reduced purchasing power, the association recommends prioritizing products “accessible to the greatest number” (carrots, zucchinis, bananas, cucumbers, etc.) and “above all, not to give up on a healthy diet.” Familles rurales also calls on public authorities to introduce a “fruit and vegetable voucher” aimed at the most disadvantaged.