According to Freshfel Europe, the leading countries include Italy, Portugal, Greece, Belgium, and Poland. In most other EU countries, this minimum level is not met. The lowest consumption levels were recorded in Latvia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Finland, where residents, on average, fall short of the recommended amount by nearly half. On average across the European Union, consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is 355.7 grams per person per day.
“Increasing the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables to the recommended 400 grams per day is not only a matter of public health but also a significant economic opportunity for the entire fruit and vegetable sector,” said Philippe Binar, General Delegate of the European Fresh Produce Association Freshfel Europe.
According to expert estimates, if every European consumed at least one additional piece of fruit or vegetable daily, total consumption would increase by 4.1 million metric tons. And if all Europeans fully met the recommended intake levels, the market for fresh fruits and vegetables would expand by approximately 15 million metric tons, according to EastFruit.
Logos Presscomment : According to the latest publicly available data from the National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova, in 2023–24, the average daily consumption of fruits and vegetables per capita is 670 grams: 314 grams of vegetables (excluding potatoes) and 356 grams of fruit (including berries and nuts). In other words, the average level of fruit and vegetable consumption in Moldova significantly exceeds the WHO-recommended standard. However, many experts point out the significant fact that Moldova meets only about 80% of its domestic demand for vegetables, on average, for three to four months of the year. The situation is somewhat more favorable when it comes to the Moldovan fruit market’s self-sufficiency in certain root vegetables.
