The demand in Europe for fruit and vegetables has seen a large increase in recent weeks, which is being attributed to the measures and restrictions in relation to Covid-19.
The European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Janusz Wojciechowski, outlined the increased demand at a meeting of the EU’s agriculture ministers last week.
“The consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables in the EU has been booming in recent weeks. Spain, Italy and the Netherlands report 40% increases, and Germany up to 100%. Demand is expected to stay strong during the containment period,” the commissioner explained.
Citrus fruits from Spain have been most affected by this. Exports of these fruits from the country usually peak in March, April and May. There appears to be limited opportunities to redirect these exports to other markets, the commissioner explained.
One of the primary concerns for the fruit and vegetable sector as a whole throughout Europe is, according to the commissioner, a shortage of labour and the availability of seasonal staff (both from within the EU and outside it).
The planting and picking season starts now and we need a solution for this. The availability of trucks and drivers is also of great concern.
“The logistical aspects are all-the-more important due the perishability of the products. Help here is needed to avoid any knock-on effects later on,” Commissioner Wojciechowski added.
Flowers
According to the commissioner, one market that was in considerable difficulty, and was in danger of being overlooked, is the flower sector.
“[This sector] represents 760,000 jobs and a turnover of €48 billion euro. The market is about to collapse and the market has no subsidies and no CMO [Common Market Organisation] regulation,” he explained.
“Whatever measures we are applying now to overcome this crisis, we have to be very prudent. We are only at the start of this crisis and no one can foresee at this point in time what will follow and how long the crisis will last and how it will affect the sector in two, three or four months’ time from now,” Commissioner Wojciechowski remarked.