Freshfel Shows EU Is Eating Less And Less Fruit and Vegetables

The latest edition of the Freshfel Consumption Monitor, published in April 2014, shows that the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables in the 28 EU member states stood at 386.96 g/capita/day in 2012. This is a decrease of 8.2% compared with 2011, and a decrease of 8.7% compared with the average of the years 2007-2011. It means that consumption in the 28 states remains under the level recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) of 400 g of fresh produce per day. Out of the 28, only 11 are not below the recommended level.   The Freshfel board met in May to discuss the latest relevant issues for the fruit and vegetable sector. They explored ways in which Freshfel can be a part of the EU’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, and the European Innovation Partnerships (EIP), that will allow for further innovation in the fresh produce sector. Board members also discussed the launch of a pan-European study on consumption patterns of fresh fruit and vegetables that should give detailed information on consumption in the EU and selected EU countries. The board also prepared the Freshfel AGM to be held on 23 September 2014 in Brussels, and reviewed the latest development of policies on the European level.   In April, Freshfel hosted a meeting of the Task Force on Research & Innovation that develops the research priorities which the fruit and vegetable sector wants to pursue in the Horizon 2020 research programme. The task force was launched by Freshfel, AREFLH and Eufrin, but remains open to other stakeholders. Discussions in Brussels focused on the potential priorities for the different parts of the fruit and vegetable supply chain, including production, storage and handling, distribution, and consumers. The objective is to define around 20 to 25 topics organised by themes which should be recommended to the Commission as priorities for the fruit and vegetable sector for the remaining years of the Horizon 2020 programme.