Europe's vegetable supply is under unusual pressure this summer as repeated heatwaves and a prolonged drought damage crops across some of the continent's biggest growing regions.
France has reported losses ranging from 25% to 100% for different vegetables, while British growers say broccoli yields have fallen by about half and lettuce prices have surged. The problem is not simply that Europe has had a hot summer but the prolonged lack of rainfall has depleted soil moisture and water reserves, making successive heatwaves far more destructive.
