According to the fruit trade association, consumers are buying fruit and vegetables less often – which is apparently due to the increased prices. Per capita consumption in Germany is well below the recommendation of the World Health Organization.
According to the German Fruit Trade Association, German citizens are consuming less fresh fruit and vegetables due to the significantly higher prices. Even on average in the EU, less of these foods are eaten in Germany.
“Private household consumption has fallen in recent months,” said association managing director Andreas Brügger to the German Press Agency. “People have less money in their wallets – and then they save on food – and would rather spend money on other things than on fresh food.” From today on, the industry will meet at the Fruit Logistica trade fair in Berlin.
Consumption well below WHO recommendations
According to the association’s evaluation, Germans are significantly below average in the EU when it comes to consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables. With an average of 287 grams, German citizens are far away from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation of consuming 400 grams of fruit and vegetables daily.
The inflation rate in Germany fell to 2.9 percent in January. However, food prices rose again at an above-average rate of 3.8 percent year-on-year. In the past two years, food prices have increased dramatically. According to the Federal Statistical Office, the food price index has risen by around 30 percent since 2022.
Too much bureaucracy in the industry?
According to the association, the manufacturing companies in the industry are not only struggling with high inflation, but also with a lot of bureaucracy. “Companies are drowning in bureaucracy and documentation requirements. That only makes everything more expensive – but the goods don’t get any better,” said Brügger. It is also understandable that many farmers are currently expressing their dissatisfaction with agricultural policy.
According to the association, 5.2 million tons of fruit and vegetables were harvested in Germany last year. Around two thirds of the fresh fruit and vegetables in German shops are imported from other countries. For example from Italy: 17.44 million tons of fruit and vegetables were harvested there last year, and in Spain even 21.596 million tons.