'The real winner is the consumer'
Added on 06 February 2025
What is currently driving the European fruit and vegetable industry?
Clearly weather, weather conditions and climate. In 2024, it was too wet in large parts over a long period of time, with extreme flooding like in Valencia. But there were also two waves of flooding in Germany. At the other extreme, heatwaves and drought also occurred regionally. Political regulations, such as the cancellation of subsidies for agricultural diesel, caused considerable displeasure. And, of course, political uncertainty is an issue. But also the labour shortage and labour costs. Fewer and fewer active ingredients are being authorised for crop protection products, which reduces the choice and increases the risk of resistance.
What surprised you when compiling the European Statistics Handbook?
The impact of the extreme weather events is not yet strongly reflected in the figures. I would have expected significant cuts in citrus fruit, especially for produce from Spain. I would have expected a smaller vegetable harvest in Germany and Central Europe. However, it remains to be seen whether the unfavourable weather conditions during storage will lead to quality problems and thus high sorting losses.
Who is doing really well at the moment?
There are no clear winners and losers in the individual European countries. But in the retail sector, it is certainly the discounters. Due to high inflation rates, consumers are looking at the price. In Germany, the discounters' share of fruit and vegetable purchases has risen again to around 52 per cent.
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