In the UK, the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) has highlighted new figures released in the 2011 Freshfel Consumption Monitor as confirming that the UK Government and fresh produce industry need to do a lot more to encourage people to enjoy eating fresh produce as part of a healthy diet.
Whilst the UK’s consumption of fresh produce appeared stable in 2010 and the UK fared better in comparison with some other EU member states, there is a worrying trend across all European member states of reduced consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables, FPC noted in a statement.
'On a positive note we saw an increase in UK production of fresh produce as well as imports in 2010 and a slight increase in consumption compared to the previous year,' said Nigel Jenney, chief executive of the FPC. 'However, we cannot afford to be complacent about the significant challenge we face as a society to encourage greater consumption of fresh produce as part of a healthy diet. The majority of UK consumers are still failing to eat the recommended 5 A DAY of which fresh produce is a key component.'
During the Government’s spending review the Fresh Produce Consortium successfully lobbied the Department of Health and helped to secure the future of the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme.
'A few pence a day is a small price to pay to help combat rising obesity and poor diet among children,' added Jenney. 'The School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme in England has proved that it can increase consumption of fresh produce and is well placed to give youngsters a head start for eating a healthy diet. We'd like to see even more recognition of the essential contribution of fresh fruit and vegetables to the health of our nation,' added Nigel Jenney.
For the UK market, other key findings in the Consumption Monitor were that UK production of fresh fruit and vegetables was 371,700 tonnes in 2010, an increase compared to 2009, UK imports of both fresh fruit and vegetables increased in 2010 compared to 2009 (fruit by 1.8 per cent and vegetables by 2.7 per cent), and in 2010 average UK consumption per head stood at 57.9 kg of fruit and 67.4 kg of vegetables.
UK consumers were ranked 21st in consumption of fresh produce compared with consumers in the other 26 EU member states.
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