representative imageeuropes blisteringly hot summer is forecast to result in the smallest potato crop in years threatening further price rises for popular foods such as fries just as consumers contend with spiralling inflation potatoes a staple for households whether bought fresh or as prepared items such as fries or crisps are among summer crops to have suffered this year from record temperatures and europes worst drought in 500 years parched conditions in germany france the netherlands and belgium the northwestern belt that accounts for most european union potato output could push eu production to its lowest on record below that seen in similarly droughthit 2018 according to analysts world potato markets advt soaring energy and food prices have fanned a sharp rise in inflation which in the euro area has risen to 9 levels not seen in half a century european producers caution that crop estimates are tentative before the main harvest gets underway in september and that rain showers and recent cooler temperatures may bring late relief but on some farms there is scant hope in juelich in western germany grower erich gussen says as much as half the crop may be lost due to drought and that any rain now would come too late nothing will continue growing here he said surveying a shrivelled plot germanys agriculture ministry did not give a harvest forecast in an aug 26 crop report but said prospects for the potato crop had drastically worsened the eus crop monitoring service this week cut its monthly potato yield forecast by 25 though its revised outlook matched the average of the past five years france may be hit hard yields there may be at least 20 below the 20year average according to french producer group unpt based on latest field surveys irrigation has curbed the effect of drought on equipped farms but plants have also wilted in successive hot spells whereas water stress we can handle with heat stress theres nothing we can do said geoffroy devry a grower north of paris and unpts head weve had hot spells before but in terms of temperature peaks and their duration weve never seen that advt heat is seen as a risk both for yields and quality with the shape and colour of tubers altered by high temperatures that could pose headaches for processing potatoes for which contracts stipulate criteria such as how long fries should be pricier friesit will cost more for the industry more for the consumer but the biggest cost will be for farmers said christophe vermeulen chief executive of belgian industry group belgapom estimating the countrys crop could fall by as much as 30 pascal willaert comanager of maison antoine one of brussels most famous stands selling belgiums renowned fries says less availability of quality potatoes will likely push up prices further its too early to say how much but whats for sure is that we are not going towards cheaper prices he said his shop already increased prices by around