An employee transplants a chili pepper seedling at the organic chili pepper producer Ramuntcho Lecuona's farm in Espelette, south-western France on April 20, 2026. 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 via Getty Images)

A producer sells his products made with Espelette pepper during the Espelette pepper festival in Espelette, southwestern France on October 25, 2026. 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 via Getty Images)

This photograph shows chili pepper plants at the organic chili pepper producer Ramuntcho Lecuona's farm in Espelette, south-western France on June 2, 226. 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 via Getty Images)

An employee pricks chili peppers to make a string of chili peppers in Espelette, southwestern France on October 16, 2026. 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 via Getty Images)

An employee hangs chili peppers on the facade of a house in Espelette, southwestern France on October 16, 2026. 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 via Getty Images)

This photograph shows chili peppers hanging on the facade of a house in Espelette, southwestern France on October 16, 2026. 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 via Getty Images)

A woman looks out from the window of a hotel decorated with strings of chili peppers during the Espelette pepper festival in Espelette, southwestern France on October 25, 2026. 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 via Getty Images)

This photograph shows strings of Espelette pepper during the Espelette pepper festival in Espelette, southwestern France on October 25, 2026. 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 via Getty Images)