Growth in demand for fresh produce slows

Signs have appeared indicating a slowdown in the strong growth of consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables registered during the pandemic, according to the latest data published by Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. In June, the increase in consumption was 11%, but in July it was down to 4.5%, compared to the same months of 2019. This marks a significant drop from the  growth registered during the lockdown, with demand surging by 40% in April and 22% in May.

Fresh fruit and vegetable consumption in Spanish households totalled 760.8 million kilos in June, 11% more than in the same month of 2019. The total comprised 428 million kilos of fruit (+8%), 247.2 million kilos of vegetables (+13%), and 85.6 million kilos of potatoes (+18%).
In July (when the lockdown ended), the total consumption was 784.3 million kilos, of which 451.7 million kilos were fruit (+5%), 242.3 million kilos vegetables (+3%) and 90.1 million kilos potatoes (+8%).