French fruit and vegetable prices have reportedly soared by up to 18% year-on-year, according to the annual survey by the Association of Rural Families. 

A mild winter, followed by a wet and cold spring, reportedly led to a 30% drop in production in some sectors with significant drop in quality, the Ministry of Agriculture said.

According to the survey which focused on apples, melons, apricots, cherries, strawberries, peaches, nectarines and pears, the average price of a kilo of fruit rose by €0.53 (US$0.60), website Rt.com reported.

Vegetable prices, including eggplant, carrots, zucchini, green beans, bell peppers, potatoes, tomatoes and lettuce, are up €0.20 (US$0.23) on average.

Potatoes, strawberries and melons saw the biggest price increase, while tomatoes and carrots were almost 5% cheaper.

Prices for organic products have also surged. Fruit prices are up 21% to an average of €6.95 per kilo, with vegetables seeing a 4.1% increase to €4.10 per kilo.

Apricots and peaches are among the most affected, with the harvest of Bergeron apricot variety down 70%, and peach production down by nearly 30%.

The cherry harvest also fell 16%.

Another reason given for the poor crop was the ban on the use of the chemical pesticide Dimethoate, according to Rt.com.

French Fruit Producers' Federation president Luc Barbier was quoted as saying by local media France 3 that the difficulties this year were not limited to France, but in fact affected other parts of Europe like Spain and Italy.

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