Photo: Freshfel Europe general delegate, Philippe Binard

Philippe Binard, Freshfel Europe’s general delegate

Over 200 representatives of Europe’s food industry and the public sector gathered for the ESSA (European Sprouted Seeds Association) and Freshfel Europe’s Food Crisis Management Event this week to study previous crises and prepare to respond to future hypothetical scenarios through closer cooperation. 

PRESS RELEASE

© Réussir Fruits et Légumes

Association calls on agri-ministers to firm-up EU-wide solutions on free movement of goods and critical workers. As the effects of the Covid-19 outbreak continue to unfold across Europe, Freshfel Europe has said that it welcomed the discussions of yesterday’s Informal Agriculture and Fisheries Council on free movement of goods and critical workers.

On the 2^nd of December, Freshfel Europe called for a fresh fruit and vegetables-in-all-policies approach in its presentation of its 2019-2024 priorities paper for the EU institutions ‘Fresh Fruit & Vegetables for Europe’s Future’ in the European Parliament. Freshfel Europe asked policy makers to help stimulate a higher level of fresh fruit and vegetable consumption as part of an integral shift to a low environmental impact plant-based diet to protect the planet and citizens’ health.

On 5 June 2019 leading fresh produce stakeholders from across Europe gathered at Freshfel Europe’s 2019 Annual Event to analyse the driving forces for opportunities in the current unpredictable business environment for the fresh produce sector. Freshfel Europe members debated a variety of opportunities through promotion and trade initiatives to enhance fruit and vegetable consumption levels and sustain growth in the sector.

The EUFRUIT thematic network met in Leuven, Belgium, on November 9 for its first general assembly.

After less than six months of operation, a dedicated knowledge platform has already launched by the project to facilitate access to research and innovation knowledge across Europe for the fruit sector.

EUFRUIT is a multi-layered project under Horizon 2020 to unleash, stimulate and use European research potential for exploiting new opportunities in the fresh produce category.

In the wake of the EU’s confirmation of the extension of economic sanctions against Russia until January 31, Freshfel Europe has called on the European Commission to maintain dialogue with Russian authorities in order to try to restore business as fast possible for fresh produce.

Worldwide production of tomatoes shows an upward trend, but the same can’t be said for per capita consumption of fresh produce.

According to Philippe Binard of Freshfel, the European fresh produce association, daily consumption in Europe is below the World Health Organisation recommendation of 400 g per capita. In what Freshfel calls an alarming trend, per capita daily EU consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables has decreased by 80 g – the equivalent of one piece of fruit – in the last decade.

The latest edition of the Freshfel Consumption Monitor shows consumption in the EU-28 stands at 341.82 g/capita/day of fresh fruit and vegetables in 2013. That's up slightly – by 5.6% – on 2012, but down 1.9% on the average for the last five years (2008-2012).

But moreoever, EU-28 consumption remains under the minimum threshold recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) of 400 g of fruit and vegetables a day.