French salt farmers emerge from reluctant win in heatwave

A group of salt farmers in the northwest region of Guerande emerged from a group that has emerged a reluctant winner, because of blistering heatwaves and drought that have parched the French countryside in recent weeks.

Guerande's snow-white Fleur de Sel flower of salt crystallises on the water's surface, it is one of the finer salts on world markets, retailing in the United States at over US $100 a kilogram.

Production has soared as temperatures climbed in recent months and almost inexistent rainfall turbo-charged salt water evaporation in the region.

Producer Francois Durand, who has worked on the salt marshes for more than 20 years, said we're heading towards record production.

Sea salt production over the last 10 years had averaged around 1.3 tonnes per salt pan, but this year the yield was nearly double that of 2.5 tonnes, he said.

He acknowledged that he is one of the few short-term winners of climate change while parts of the country deal with wildfires and water shortages.

You could say that. He continued, unfortunately. It's good for us.