Fruit and vegetable consumption in Italy has reached a 17-year high, with a total of 1.3 million tonnes in the first two months of 2017, representing an increase of 4% year-on-year.
Fruit consumption grew to 711,000 tonnes (+4% on the first two months of 2016) and vegetables to 590,000 tonnes (+5%), according to data from fresh produce organisation Apo Conerpo, as reported by Ansa.
Sales Growth
Last year, sales of fresh organic fruit in the food retail channel exceeded €147 million (+28% year-on-year), with 55% of households buying organic fresh fruit and vegetables on at least one occasion over the past 12 months.
Italian farmers association Coldiretti reports a 9.6% growth in fruit and vegetable sales in the first four months of 2017, based on Nielsen data, claiming that consumption has not been as high since the beginning of the century. Leading growth areas have been dry fruit (+11.9%), vegetables (11.9%) and fruit (7.1%).
In addition, Italian exports of fresh fruit and vegetables have reached their highest value in 25 years, growing 7% year-on-year in the first two months of 2017.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
