European farms at risk: Fresh produce faces heatwave threat

Fresh food supplies from Southern Europe could face renewed disruption if the current heatwave continues.

In Spain, olive producers have warned that the intense heat is harshly impacting this season’s olive trees.

Some areas of Spain, the world’s leading producer of olive oil, saw temperatures rise to 45°C in mid-July. This follows above-average temperatures in the spring season too.

When olive trees overheat, unripe olives fall early as the tree attempts to preserve moisture.

The International Olive Oil Council say that supplies from last year’s harvest are likely to be depleted by September, and this year’s diminished harvest will not be ready until November, which may result in stock shortages.

Additionally, the price of olive oil which does make it to the shelf will rise due to similar situations in Portugal and Italy.

In Italy, tomato growers also warn of a smaller harvest. In addition to the heat, flooding has also wiped out around 15% of crops planted.

Meanwhile, drought which emerged earlier in the year is only adding to the misery in Spain. In April, representatives from Spain’s leading farmers’ union stated that 60% of farmland in the country had seen irreversible damage.

Many of the Mediterranean continue to swelter in the heat, visible on the TemperatureRadar, with little relief on the horizon.