Freshfel Europe has released its latest edition of the Freshfel Consumption Monitor which analyses the production, trade and consumption trends for fresh fruit and vegetables in the EU-28. The analysis of the latest available data (up to 2013) shows that consumption in the EU-28 stands at 341.82 g/capita/day of fresh fruit and vegetables in 2013. This represents a slight increase compared to 2012 by 5.6%, but a decrease by 1.9% compared to the average of the last five years (2008-2012). Consumption levels in the EU-28 remains under the minimum threshold recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) of 400 g of fruit and vegetables per day. Out of the 28 Member States of the European Union, only six are able to meet this level of consumption.
While the average aggregate consumption of fruit of vegetables in the EU stands at 341.81 g/day in 2013, fruit consumption reached 188.60 g/capita/day. This is 10.1% more than in 2012, but still 1.5% less than the average of the years 2008-2012. In regard to vegetables, the per capita consumption in 2013 stands at 153.22 g/capita/day, corresponding to an increase of 0.5% compared with 2012 and of 2.3% compared with the average of the previous five years.
Philippe Binard, General Delegate of Freshfel, commented: “The Consumption Monitor shows that fresh fruit and vegetable consumption in the EU has slightly increased in 2013. Nonetheless, on the longer-term perspective, it still shows an insufficient level of consumption across the EU and an overall decreasing trend. The moderate increase in 2013 is a positive signal, although the market and economic situation in 2014 and 2015 remains challenging for different reasons. The continuous low consumption makes it urgent to continue to stimulate fresh fruit and vegetable consumption.”
