An employee places nets over chili pepper plants in Espelette southwestern France, on June 17, 2026. (Photo by Gaizka IROZ / AFP via Getty Images). In the Basque Country, following a summer of intense heatwaves and a historic drought, even the iconic Espelette pepper is parched; producers believe that irrigation, previously prohibited, is the only solution. (Photo by Gaizka IROZ / AFP)