Shoppers in northern Spain are facing higher food prices this summer, with farmers and vendors saying that the increases stem from a mix of factors, not just extreme heat and drought.
Extreme heat and drought grip parts of Europe this summer, putting pressure on the continent's agricultural production.
In Cantabria, northern Spain, rising food prices are visibly reshaping daily shopping habits at one of the region's largest farmers' markets.
"I can clearly feel the rise in prices. Almost everything has gone up -- vegetables and fruits, but meat even more so, and the increase is terrifying. Egg prices have also risen dramatically," said local resident Carmen.
"Consumers now tend to buy premium dairy products only for special occasions, such as gatherings with friends. In their daily life, they may not buy them for themselves, and if they do, only in small amounts," said Sergio, who runs a cheese stall at the market.
According to the latest data from Spain's National Statistics Institute, the national consumer price index rose 3.6 percent year-on-year in July, with eggs, beef, and fish prices remaining at relatively high levels.
However, the current rise in food prices cannot be directly attributed to this year's high temperatures and drought alone. Market operators and local farming organizations said that for now, other factors, including energy costs, transportation, and changes in supply and demand, are playing a more significant role in pushing prices up. But climate effects cannot be ignored, they added.
"We are the first link in the food supply chain. The cost increases [driven by drought] affect us producers first, and consumers have not yet truly felt the impact of these cost rises," said Luis Perez Portilla, secretary general of the Cantabrian Mountain Farmers and Herders Federation (UGAM-COAG).
Crop losses caused by heat and drought first accumulate pressure at the production end, and there is a transmission period between farmers and consumers. The effect of this year's extreme weather on food prices will not be immediate, but will take time to pass through production, distribution, and other stages before reaching the consumer level.
The European Commission's Joint Research Center reported in late August that the summer's persistent heat and drought had already affected agricultural production in France, Italy, and several Central and Eastern European countries. In some regions, pasture availability and grassland productivity have declined markedly, and yield expectations for various summer crops are now below the five-year average.
"We see that Portugal, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and other countries have all suffered drought. So this will have an impact on the entire livestock sector, including prices and costs," said Portilla.
Multiple factors drive food price hikes in Spain
