According to the latest estimates from Agreste, French lettuce production is expected to drop by 8% in the 2026-2027 marketing year, despite a slight increase in the area under cultivation. Successive heatwaves have particularly affected summer production, which is down by 25% year-on-year. This decrease in supply has been accompanied by a sharp rise in prices, which reached record levels in August.
Production down despite an increase in cultivated area
According to forecasts finalized on October 1st 2026, French lettuce production is expected to stand at 389.7 million heads for the 2026-2027 marketing year, 35 million heads fewer than in the previous marketing year (-8%).
This decline comes at a time when the area under cultivation, across all varieties, is expected to increase by 2%, reaching 6,792 hectares in France (excluding the overseas departments and regions). This increase is mainly driven by Lower Normandy and the Pays de la Loire region. All production areas are expected to be affected by the decline in volumes, with more pronounced losses in the summer lettuce-growing areas of the North, West and Center-West.
Significant losses during the summer
The high temperatures re...