Statistics Explained

The fruit and vegetable sector in the EU - a statistical overview

Data extracted in January and February 2024

Planned article update: 1 March 2029

Highlights

In 2020, about 1.5 million holdings in the EU managed fruit orchards and about 0.7 million farms cultivated fresh vegetables.

In 2020, 3.7 million hectares of land in the EU were dedicated to growing fruits, 2.0 million hectares to growing fresh vegetables.

Infographic vertical bar chart showing share of EU production of various types of vegetables as percentage based on tonnes. Four sections for fresh vegetables, tomatoes, onions and carrots each have four columns representing the top three country producers and other EU for the year 2022.

This article describes the fruit and fresh vegetables[1] sector in the European Union. A range of agricultural data from a number of Eurostat agricultural statistics (farm structure survey, annual crop production statistics, agricultural prices, agricultural economics accounts) are used, in addition to trade statistics, industrial production statistics and data on the daily consumption of fruits and vegetables in order to depict the various stages in the process of bringing fruits and vegetables from fields to the market.

Full article

Where are fruits and vegetables grown in the EU? By how many farms? Over what area?

About 1.5 million holdings (hereafter termed 'farms') in the European Union (EU) managed fruit orchards and about 0.7 million farms cultivated fresh vegetables

About 1.5 million farms in the EU managed fruit orchards in 2020, which was equivalent to about one in every six (16.4 %) of all the EU's farms. A small majority of the EU's farms that had fruit orchards were in three Member States: Romania (23.9 % of the EU total), Spain (18.9 %) and Italy (13.7 %). A further one-quarter were in Poland (8.9 %), Greece (8.0 %) and Portugal (7.9 %) combined.

However, only about one-third (34.3 %) of the EU's farms that managed fruit orchards in 2020 were specialised[2] in fruit and citrus cultivation (some 509 000 farms). The remaining one million or so farms on which fruit orchards were managed were either crop specialists, livestock specialists or mixed farms (mixed crop and livestock or mixed cropping).

Farms specialising in fruit and citrus fruit production represented 5.6 % of all the EU's farms in 2020. A little more than three-quarters of these specialist fruit farms were located in five Member States; these were Spain (28.3 %), Italy (15.7 %), Romania (12.6 %) Greece (10.9 %) and Poland (10.5 %).

Doughnut chart showing percentage share of EU farms managing fruit orchards and the EU's specialist fruit farms for the year 2020. Based on 1.5 million EU farms, seven segments represent six countries with the highest shares and other EU. A smaller doughnut chart based on the 0.5 million EU specialist fruit farms has seven segments representing six countries with the highest shares and other EU.
Figure 1: Share of EU farms managing fruit orchards and of the EU's specialist fruit farms
(%, 2020)
Source: Eurostat (ef_lus_allcrops) and (ef_m_farmleg)

About 709 000 farms in the EU cultivated fresh vegetables in 2020, which was equivalent to about one in every thirteen (7.8 %) of all the EU's farms. Seven in every ten of the farms cultivating fresh vegetables were in just five Member States (see Figure 2): Romania (20.1 % of the EU total), Spain (14.5 %), Poland (12.9 %), Italy (12.5 %), and Lithuania (10.7 %).

Specialisation in fresh vegetable production is less widespread than it is for fruit. Bearing in mind that the classification for specialist horticultural farms also includes farms that produce flowers and ornamental plants in addition to fresh vegetables, there were only 206 000 farms in the EU that were classified as specialist horticulture holdings[3]. About seven in every ten of these specialist horticultural farms were in jus five Member States: Spain (20.6 % of the EU total), Poland (14.6 %), Italy (13.5 %), Romania (10.9 %) and France (7.7 %).

Doughnut chart showing percentage share of EU farms growing fresh vegetables and of the EU's specialist horticultural farms for the year 2020. Based on 0.7 million EU farms, seven segments represent six countries with the highest shares and other EU. A smaller doughnut chart based on the 0.5 million EU specialist horticultural farms has seven segments representing six countries with the highest shares and other EU.
Figure 2: Share of EU farms growing fresh vegetables and of the EU's specialist fruit farms
(%, 2020)
Source: Eurostat (ef_lus_allcrops) and (ef_m_farmleg)

3.7 million hectares in the EU dedicated to growing fruit – two-fifths in Spain – with almond trees and apple trees the most widely cultivated

Almost 3.7 million hectares of land were planted to fruit in the EU in 2022, representing an estimated 2 % of all utilised agricultural land. Nut orchards accounted for about 40 % of the total area of fruit (see Figure 3), stone fruit orchards about 16 %, pome fruit orchards (apples and pears) another 16 % and citrus fruit orchards 14 %. The remaining area planted to fruit was split between tropical and sub-tropical fruit (about 5 % of the total area of fruit), berries (about 4 %) and other fruit like table grapes.

Pie chart showing percentage share of EU fruit area based on type of fruit for the year 2022. Seven segments represent nuts, stone fruit, pome fruit, citrus fruit, tropical and subtropical fruit, berries and other fruit.
Figure 3: Share of EU fruit area
(%, type of fruit, 2022)
Source: Eurostat (apro_cpsh1)

Spain used 1.5 million hectares of land for fruit production in 2022, almost 60 % of which was for nut production (particularly almonds) and about 20 % for citrus fruit production (see Figure 4). Spain accounted, therefore, for about two-fifths of all the EU's fruit production area. The next highest share was in Italy (about 17 %), followed by Poland (about 9 %) and Portugal (about 8 %).

Almond orchards were the single species occupying the largest fruit area in the EU in 2022: 0.9 million hectares (about 25 % of the EU fruit area), of which Spain accounted for about 85 %. Spain was the second largest almond producer in the world after the United States of America, ahead of Australia[4].

Apple orchards were the second most common single species, covering 0.5 million hectares and accounting for about 13 % of the total fruit area of the EU. Apples were grown in every Member State. Nearly one-third (about 32 %) of the EU's apple orchards were in Poland, a Member State where apples accounted for almost one-half (47 %) of its total fruit area. A further one-third of the EU's apple orchards were shared between Romania, France, and Italy (all 11 % of the EU total).

Horizontal queued bar chart showing fruit area as 1 000 hectares by type of fruit in individual EU Member States. Each country has six queues representing nuts, stone fruit, pome fruit, citrus fruit, tropical and subtropical fruit and other fruit for the year 2022.
Figure 4: Fruit area
(1 000 ha, type of fruit, 2022)
Source: Eurostat (apro_cpsh1)

The share of apple orchard area in Romania was much higher than its equivalent share (4.3 %) of the European apple harvest. A majority of the EU's apple production of 12.6 million tonnes in 2022 came from Poland (34.0 %), Italy (18.0 %) and France (14.2 %). For more details on fruit production, please refer to the Statistics Explained article on [Agricultural production - crops].

Average area of fruit orchards and fresh vegetables per farm relatively low, particularly in Romania

The average area of fruit production on the 1.5 million farms managing the EU's orchards was 2.5 hectares in 2020. Whilst Romania had the highest number of farms managing orchards, they were generally very small (an average 0.4 hectares). By comparison, the average in Spain was 5.3 hectares, with the highest averages in the Netherlands (7.1 hectares) and Belgium (11.1 hectares).

Likewise, although Romania had the highest number of farms growing fresh vegetables, they were generally much smaller than the EU average (0.7 hectares compared with 2.7 hectares). The average area of fresh vegetables on farms growing fresh vegetables was highest in Ireland (13.1 hectares, although there were only 330 farms growing fresh vegetables) and was also more than 10 hectares in the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany.

2.0 million hectares in the EU dedicated to growing fresh vegetables, just over one-half of which was in Italy, Spain and France combined

About 2.0 million hectares of land in the EU was used to produce fresh vegetables in 2022, representing an estimated 1 % of the EU's total utilised agricultural area, on which 59.8 million tonnes of crop were produced. Note that the areas for melon and strawberry production are included in these figures. For more details on vegetable production, please refer to the Key Figures on the European food chain.

The group of fresh vegetables that comprises tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, melons, courgettes, cucumbers and gherkins (i.e. vegetables cultivated for fruits) accounted for a little over one-quarter (27.2 %) of this total area. Root, tuber and bulb vegetables, such as carrots, radishes, onions, shallots and garlic accounted for a further one-fifth (an estimated 21.1 %) of the total, followed closely (18.2 %) by the diverse group of leafy and stalked vegetables (such as lettuce, spinach, chicory, endives, asparagus, artichokes etc.). Among other key vegetable groups, fresh pulses (mainly peas and beans) were produced on 13.4 % of the EU's fresh vegetables area in 2022, with brassicas grown on a further 11.8 %.

The areas planted to fresh vegetables in Italy (19.7 % of the EU total), Spain (19.0 %) and France (14.1 %) were considerably more than other EU countries (see Figure 5) and together represented a majority of the area planted to fresh vegetables in the EU in 2022.

Horizontal queued bar chart showing vegetable area as 1 000 hectares by type of vegetable in individual EU Member States. Each country has six queues representing vegetables cultivated for fruit; root, tuber and bulb vegetables; leafy and stalked vegetables; fresh pulses; brassicas and other vegetables for the year 2022.
Figure 5: Vegetable area
(1 000 ha, type of fresh vegetable, 2022)
Source: Eurostat (apro_cpsh1)

At the level of individual fresh vegetables, the area planted for tomato production was greater than that of any other fresh vegetable (10.6 % of the EU's total fresh vegetables area in 2022). The cultivation of tomatoes was based on areas planted in Italy (46.8 % of the EU total) and Spain (21.7 %), and to a lesser degree Romania (8.2 %) and Portugal (8.0 %). Despite the area planted to tomatoes in Romania (17 200 hectares), it only accounted for 1.9 % of the EU's tomato harvest. By contrast, the Netherlands supplied 5.0 % of the EU's harvested production despite cultivating it on only 0.9 % of the EU's overall tomato area.

Onions were the second most cultivated fresh vegetable, accounting for 8.6 % of the EU's total fresh vegetables area. The key onion producing Member States were the Netherlands (19.7 % of the EU's onion area and 24.2 % of its production), Spain (13.9 % and 20.0 % respectively), France (10.2 % and 11.5 % respectively), Poland (13.3 % and 10.5 % respectively) and Germany (9.9 % and 10.3 % respectively).

Fruit and vegetable production

Like other types of crop, production levels of fruits and fresh vegetables are sensitive to weather conditions throughout the growing season and at harvest, as well as other factors like soil quality, nutrient availability, pests and, in the case of fruit, the age of the plant stock. These factors impact on yields (the quantity of crops harvested per hectare of cultivated land) and quality. A detailed agrometeorological report for the 2022 crop year is provided in the Statistics Explained article on [Agricultural production – crops].

The EU produces a wide range of fruits, berries, and nuts. In 2022, the EU produced 12.6 million tonnes of apples, 2.1 million tonnes of pears, 6.3 million tonnes of stone fruit (such as peaches, nectarines, apricots, cherries, and plums), 2.6 million tonnes of sub-tropical and tropical fruit (such as figs, kiwis, avocados, and bananas), 1.1 million tonnes of nuts and 0.7 million tonnes of berries, as well as 10.5 million tonnes of citrus fruit.

To illustrate the impact of weather conditions, the harvested production of stone fruits was 5.1 % higher in 2022 than 2021, despite adverse weather conditions in some Member States; for example, the harvested production in Spain was down about one-quarter in 2022 and that in Romania down about one-sixth. Those same adverse weather conditions impacted the harvested production of citrus fruits, the reductions in Spain particularly impacting the EU decline (down -9.2 %).

34 % of EU apple production in Poland; just under one-half of all EU oranges from Spain

Thousands of varieties of apple are grown worldwide, many of which have been created and selected to grow in varied climates. This has enabled commercial apple production to take place in all Member States. Broadly speaking, three in every ten apples produced in the EU in 2022 (34.0 %) were harvested in Poland. The other principal apple-producing Member States were Italy (18.0 % of the EU total) and France (14.2 %).

By contrast, orange production and peach production are much more restricted by climatic conditions; a little over 90 % of all oranges and peaches produced in the EU came from Spain, Italy and Greece.

Spain and Italy are key producers of fresh vegetables

Fresh vegetables were cultivated on 2.0 million hectares of land across the EU in 2022, on which 59.8 million tonnes of crop were produced. The three most commonly grown fresh vegetables – in quantity terms – were tomatoes (15.4 million tonnes of harvested production), onions (6.2 million tonnes) and carrots (4.4 million tonnes).

Spain was the leading producer of fresh vegetables (23.7 % of the EU's harvested production in 2022), followed by Italy (20.8 %). The production of some types of fresh vegetables is concentrated in a few EU Member States. For example, Italy accounted for close to two-fifths (39.8 %) of the EU's harvested production of tomatoes in 2022. The Netherlands (24.2 % of the EU's harvested production) and Spain (20.0 %) were the principal producers of onions, while Germany (17.7 % of the EU total) had the highest share of the harvested production of carrots.

Output values

EU production of fruits and vegetables in 2022 valued at EUR 68.0 billion

The total value of the EU's output of fruits and fresh vegetables at basic prices (i.e., including subsidies but excluding taxes on production) was EUR 68.0 billion in 2022[5]. This represented 12.6 % of the value of the EU's agricultural industry in 2022. The value of fresh vegetables produced in 2022 was EUR 40.7 billion and that of fruits was EUR 27.3 billion.

Spain (22.5 %), Italy (21.3 %) and France (10.2 %) accounted for a small majority of the EU value of fruits and fresh vegetables in 2022, with Germany (8.1 %), Poland (7.0 %), Greece (6.6 %), the Netherlands (5.7 %) and Romania (5.2 %) together accounting for another one-third of the EU total.

In some EU countries, fruits and vegetables production was a key component of agricultural production. In Greece, almost one-third (31.7 %) of the output value of the agricultural industry in 2022 came from fruits and fresh vegetables (see Figure 6).

Horizontal bar chart showing relative size of fruit and fresh vegetable sectors as percentage share of value of fruit and fresh vegetable sectors in agricultural industry in individual EU Member States for the year 2022.
Figure 6: Relative size of fruit and fresh vegetable sectors
(% share of value of fruit and fresh vegetable sectors in agricultural industry, 2022)
Source: Eurostat (aact_eaa01)

Tomatoes and apples are the most valuable fresh products

Tomato production in the EU was valued at EUR 7.8 billion in 2022, accounting for almost one-fifth (19.1 %) of the total value of fresh vegetables production. The contribution of tomatoes to the total value of fresh vegetables produced in each Member State varied greatly, reaching a high in Bulgaria (34.0 %). Nevertheless, it was the value of tomato production in Spain (22.5 %), Italy (16.5 %), Poland (11.5 %), the Netherlands (10.6 %) that accounted for about three-fifths (61.1 %) of the EU total.

The production of apples[6] in the EU was valued at EUR 4.7 billion in 2022, equivalent to 17.4 % of the value of fruit in the EU. The contribution of apples to the total output value of fruit was highest in Luxembourg (68.3 %), and then Slovakia (62.4 %) and Czechia (59.9 %). However, it was the value of apple production in France (22.2 %), Italy (20.9 %) and Poland (16.4 %) that accounted for about three-fifths (59.5 %) of the EU total.

Trade

EU net importer of fruits and fresh vegetables

The EU is traditionally a net importer of fruits and fresh vegetables[7]. In 2022, the value of the EU's imports of fruits and fresh vegetables from non-EU countries was EUR 20.6 billion. This was considerably more than the EU's exports of fruits and fresh vegetables (EUR 9.4 billion), resulting in a trade deficit of EUR 11.2 billion in these products.

The intra-EU trade in fruit accounted for 56.2 % of the total value of the internal trade in fruits and fresh vegetables in 2022. Among fruit, the value of the intra-EU trade in citrus fruit as a whole was highest (representing 12.3 % of the total value of fruits and fresh vegetables in 2022). Among the fresh vegetables, the value of the intra-EU trade in the grouping of crops within 'other vegetables' was highest (representing 14.4 % of the total value of fruits and fresh vegetables). In terms of a single crop, rather than a grouping of crops, the value of the intra-EU trade in tomatoes was highest in 2022 (accounting for 9.1 % of the total value of fruits and fresh vegetables).

Stacked vertical bar chart showing intra- and extra-EU trade in fruit and fresh vegetables as euro billion in the EU. Four columns represent fruit exports, fruit imports, fresh vegetables exports and fresh vegetables imports, each with two stacks for intra-EU and extra-EU for the year 2022.
Figure 7: Intra- and extra-EU trade in fruit and fresh vegetables
(€ billion, EU, 2022)
Source: Eurostat and DS-016890/default/table?lang=en (DS-016894 and DS-016890)

Two Member States accounted for slightly more than 60 % of intra-EU exports in value terms; these were Spain (33.2 %) and the Netherlands[8] (28.0 %). The next highest share was for Italy (10.0 %).

The intra-EU export of specific fruits and vegetables was dominated by some Member States: Spain accounted for a majority of the value of intra-EU exports of citrus fruits (61.8 % of the total value), of apricots, cherries and peaches (53.3 %), of lettuce and chicory (51.2 %), as well as of melons and watermelons (50.6 %); the Netherlands accounted for the highest share in the grouping that includes dates, figs, pineapples and avocados (53.6 %), as well as grapes, fresh or dried (40.7 %) and tomatoes (38.0 %), among others.

Nuts and bananas among key imports from non-EU countries

Imports of fruit from non-EU countries were valued at EUR 17.1 billion in 2022, considerably more than the EUR 3.5 billion for fresh vegetables. Among types of fruits, imports of fresh and dried nuts accounted for 21.4 % of the total value of fresh fruits and vegetables from non-EU countries. This was followed by bananas (a 16.0 % share), the grouping of dates, figs, pineapples and avocados (also 16.0 %), berries (9.3 %), citrus fruits (8.9 %) and grapes (8.2 %).

Fruit and vegetables were imported from a large number of countries, scattered around the globe. However, one-half (50.2 %) of the total imported value came from just five countries: the United States (12.5 %), Morocco (11.3 %), Türkiye (9.7 %), Peru (8.5 %) and South Africa (8.2 %).

There was clear specialisation in the market both for fruits and fresh vegetables.

Regarding fruit:

  • three-quarters of extra-EU nuts imported came from just the United States (57.3 % in value terms in 2022) and Türkiye (16.5 %);
  • three-quarters of bananas came from Central and South America (including Ecuador accounting for 30.0 %, Colombia for 23.3 % and Costa Rica for 18.6 %);
  • one-half of dates, figs, pineapple and avocados came from just Peru (26.4 %), Costa Rica (16.3 %) and Israel (7.5 %);
  • nearly two-fifths of citrus fruits came from South Africa (38.8 % in value terms), with an additional two-fifths from the combined imports from Türkiye (9.9 %), Argentina (7.9 %) Morocco (7.8 %), Brazil (7.8 %) and Egypt (7.6 %);
  • grapes were mostly imported from South Africa (28.7 %), Türkiye (17.1 %), Peru (12.2 %), Chile (12.0 %) and India (10.7 %);
  • three-quarters of fresh strawberries and other berries were supplied by Morocco (23.6 %), Peru (23.1 %), New Zealand (16.9 %) and Chile (10.0 %);
  • three-quarters of apples and pears came from just Chile (34.9 % in value terms), South Africa (27.1 %) and New Zealand (13.3 %);
  • three-quarters of apricots, cherries, plums and peaches originated from Türkiye (32.9 %), South Africa (30.3 %) and Chile (14.2 %).

Regarding vegetables:

  • Morocco was the main non-EU supplier of tomatoes (73.7 % in value terms of extra-EU imports in 2022), leguminous vegetables (57.3 %), and the composite group of other vegetables (25.6 %);
  • The United Kingdom was the main non-EU supplier of lettuces and chicory (43.2 %) and carrots and similar edible roots (29.2 %).
  • North Macedonia was the main supplier of cabbages (31.7 %), Türkiye the leading supplier of cucumbers (37.7 %) and China the leading supplier of onions and garlic (25.5 %).

The United Kingdom was the largest export destination of the EU's fruits and vegetables

In terms of the total value of extra-EU exports of fruits and fresh vegetables, the main destinations were the United Kingdom (43.5 % of the total), Switzerland (14.3 % of the total), Norway (6.7 %) and the United States (2.7 %).

The EU exported apples and pears to the value of EUR 1.2 billion in 2022, the main importers being the United Kingdom (27.5 %), Egypt (8.2 %) and Saudi Arabia (7.4 %). It exported berries (excluding strawberries) to the value of EUR 1.0 billion with the United Kingdom (about 30 % of the total) and Switzerland (about 16.0 %) being the principal destinations. The EU also exported citrus fruits to the value of EUR 0.9 billion, with the United Kingdom (38.5 % of the total) and Switzerland (19.6 %) also being the principal destination for this fruit product.

Vertical bar chart showing extra-EU trade in fruit by main fruit groups as euro billion in the EU. Eight sections represent apples and pears, berries, citrus, stone fruits, nuts, tropical, grapes and bananas. Each section has two columns representing exports and imports for the year 2022.
Figure 8: Extra-EU trade in fruit, by main fruit groups
(€ billion, EU, 2022)
Source: Eurostat (DS-016894)


Vertical bar chart showing extra-EU trade in fresh vegetables by main vegetable groups as euro billion in the EU. Eight sections represent onions, tomatoes, lettuce and chicory, cabbages, fresh pulses, cucumbers, carrots and other. Each section has two columns representing exports and imports for the year 2022.
Figure 9: Extra-EU trade in fresh vegetables, by main vegetable groups
(€ billion, EU, 2022
Source: Eurostat (DS-016894)


Data sources

Statistics on crop production

Statistics on crop products are obtained by sample surveys, supplemented by administrative data and estimates based on expert observations. The sources vary from one EU Member State to another because of national conditions and statistical practices. National statistical institutes or Ministries of Agriculture are responsible for data collection in accordance with EC Regulations. The finalised data sent to Eurostat are as harmonised as possible. Eurostat is responsible for establishing EU aggregates. The statistics collected on agricultural products cover more than 100 individual crop products. Information is collected for the area under cultivation (expressed in 1 000 hectares), the quantity harvested (expressed in 1 000 tonnes) and the yield (expressed in 100 kg per hectare). For some products, data at a national level may be supplemented by regional statistics at NUTS level 1 or level 2.

Statistics on the structure of agricultural holdings (FSS)

A comprehensive Farm structure survey (FSS) is carried out by EU Member States every 10 years (the full scope being the agricultural census) and intermediate sample surveys are carried out twice between these basic surveys. The statistical unit is the agricultural holding; the EU Member States collect information from individual agricultural holdings, covering:

  • land use;
  • livestock numbers;
  • rural development (for example, activities other than agriculture);
  • management and farm labour input (including age, sex and relationship to the holder).

Survey data are aggregated to different geographic levels (countries, regions, and for basic surveys also districts) and arranged by size class, area status, legal status of holding, objective zone and farm type. In the FSS organic data has been collected since the 2000 Census.

Economic accounts for agriculture (EAA)

Data on EAA provide an insight into:

  • the economic viability of agriculture;
  • agriculture's contribution to each EU Member State's wealth;
  • the structure and composition of agricultural production and inputs;
  • the remuneration of factors of production;
  • relationships between prices and quantities of both inputs and outputs.

The output of agricultural activity includes output sold (including trade in agricultural goods and services between agricultural units), changes in stocks, output for own final use (own final consumption and own-account gross fixed capital formation), output produced for further processing by agricultural producers, as well as intra-unit consumption of livestock feed products. The output of the agricultural sector is made up of the sum of the output of agricultural products and of the goods and services produced in inseparable non-agricultural secondary activities; animal and crop output are the main product categories of agricultural output. Eurostat also collects annual agricultural prices (in principle net of VAT) to compare agricultural price levels between EU Member States and to study sales channels.

COMEXT database on EU trade

COMEXT is the Eurostat reference database for international trade. It provides access not only to both recent and historical data from the EU Member States but also to statistics of a significant number of third countries. International trade aggregated and detailed statistics disseminated from the Eurostat website are compiled from COMEXT data according to a monthly process. Because COMEXT is updated on a daily basis, data published on the website may differ from data stored in COMEXT in case of recent revisions. EU data are compiled according to community guidelines and may, therefore, differ from national data published by Member States. Statistics on extra-EU trade are calculated as the sum of trade of each of the 28 Member States with countries outside the EU. In other words, the EU is considered as a single trading entity and trade flows are measured into and out of the area, but not within it. The importance of the EU's internal market is underlined by the fact that the proportion of intra-EU trade in goods is higher than extra-EU trade in goods in most EU Member States with few exceptions. The variation in the proportion of total trade in goods accounted for by intra-EU trade reflects to some degree historical ties and geographical location.

PRODCOM, database on the production of manufactured goods

PRODCOM is the European Union (EU) survey providing statistics on the production of manufactured goods. The Prodcom survey covers the mining, quarrying and manufacturing sectors, in other words, NACE Rev. 2 Sections B and C. Prodcom statistics are based on a list of products called the Prodcom list which consists of more than 3 800 headings, and which is revised every year. In the list, products are detailed at an 8-digit level — only information at this detailed level can be found in the Prodcom database, as production data for different products cannot always be meaningfully aggregated. The purpose of Prodcom statistics is to report, for each product in the Prodcom list, how much production has been sold during the reference period. This means that Prodcom statistics relate to products (not to activities) and are therefore not strictly comparable with activity-based statistics such as structural business statistics. Sometimes the data for some products cannot be reported, for instance if an enterprise cannot report the volume in the required measurement unit. In these cases, either the national statistical office or Eurostat makes estimates so that complete EU totals can be published. In some cases the national statistical authority requests that the data for a particular product be kept confidential. This can happen, for instance, if there is only one producer in the country so that the published data refers directly to that producer. Eurostat is legally bound to respect such confidentiality, but may use the confidential amount in EU totals, as long as it is not revealed by doing so. If this is not possible, the EU total is rounded so that an approximate figure can be given without revealing the confidential data. The rounding base is also shown in order to indicate the range of possible true values of the total.

Context

This article describes the fruit and vegetable sector in the European Union. The overall aim is to offer the readers a statistical overview on a single commodity, vertically linking all the steps from the field to market. The food chain approach is indeed one of the key issues within the EU Commission as for its socio-economic importance and for the extensive legislative EU framework, which is one of the most EU-level harmonised (e.g. General Food law Regulation (EC) No 178/2002). In addition, it is of great relevance also within international organisations such as, among others, OECD.

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Notes

  1. In this article, as well as in all Eurostat agricultural statistics, the distinction between fruit and vegetables is based on an agronomical and farm management point of view. Thus, the term "vegetables" refers to the horticultural crops: i.e. the species that are annual (or rarely biennial) and subsequently occupy the arable land for usually less than one production season. Conversely, the term "fruit" stands for the group composed of those crops that are perennial: i.e. the crops that are permanent in the field for more than two years and which are usually bushes or trees. This implies that the fresh vegetables group includes brassica (cauliflowers, broccoli, cabbages), leafy and stalked vegetables (such as lettuce, spinach, chicory, endives, asparagus, artichoke), root and bulb species (carrots, radish, onion, shallots and garlic), fresh pulses (peas, beans) and all the herbaceous crops cultivated for their fruits (such as tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, courgettes, cucumbers and gherkins). Following the above-mentioned distinction, melons, watermelons and strawberries are also included in the main aggregate of fresh vegetables. The fruit group includes pome fruits (apples and pears), stone fruits (such as peaches, apricots, plums and cherries), nuts fruits (such as almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pistachios), subtropical and tropical fruits (kiwi, figs, bananas, etc.), berries (such as blueberries, redcurrants, gooseberries, raspberries, etc.) with the exclusion of strawberries, as aforementioned. For the main aim of this article, citrus fruits (such as oranges, lemons, tangerines, grapefruits) and table grapes are also included.
  2. Farm specialisation is defined according to the EU typology of agricultural holdings, based on the standard output of agricultural products.
  3. Horticulture specialisation includes the production of flowers and ornamental plants besides edible vegetables.
  4. FAO: almond production
  5. Agricultural output values comprise an output component and a price component. For the purposes of this article, analysis concentrates on the values of fruit and vegetable products. Information on prices is available in the Eurostat's free, online database and some analysis is provided in the Key Figures on the European food chain, 2023 edition.
  6. Dessert apples, i.e. apples for fresh consumption. Thus, apples for processing are not included.
  7. The HS nomenclature in use for trade statistics groups strawberries among berries, melons and water melons, and papayas. Adjustments have been made to exclude strawberries, melons and fresh watermelons from fruits and include them as other vegetables.
  8. The relative share of the Netherlands reflects, in part, its favourable location as a logistics hub including the EU's largest sea freight port (Rotterdam – see also the International trade statistics – background for the so-called Rotterdam effect), with some goods imported from non-EU countries but re-exported as intra-EU flows from the Netherlands to other Member States.