Spain: The pandemic breaks the negative trend of fruit consumption in recent years

The consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables in households in 2020 compared to the previous year grew by 10% and 12,5% ​​respectively, and spending did so by 21,8% (fruits) and 16,4% (vegetables), driven by COVID, according to the "Report on food consumption in Spain 2020", presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas

Fruits

The consumption of fresh fruits in households in 2020 grew by 10% compared to 2019 and totaled 4.611 million kilos and spending did so by 21,8%, totaling 7.881 million euros. Per capita consumption stood at 99,7 kilos per person per year, 9,7% more than in 2019, and per capita spending grew 21,5%.

COVID has driven this growth that was recorded during all months of 2020, except for the month of January, whose decline is 1,1%. The highest growth for the category occurs in the months of April and May, reaching its highest variation with respect to the previous year in the month of April with an increase in purchase of 35,6% of kilos.

Fruit and Vegetable Sector

Citrus fruits (orange, lemons, tangerines and grapefruit) are the types of fresh fruit that were bought the most in 2020, currently they exceed a quarter of the market volume (26,9%) being responsible for 1 of every € 4 of the category. The second type of fruit with the highest volume acquisition are exotic fruits (bananas, kiwi, avocado, pineapple and custard apple) with 20,8% of kilos and 24,9% of turnover. This fruit and vegetable sector is one of those that most contributes to the growth of the category.

In third place, pome fruits (grapes, apples and pears) with 18,6% of the volume proportion and a share in value of 19,2%. This type of fruit breaks its inertia of decrease and gains relevance within Spanish households at the end of 2020, with a notable increase in value of 26,0%. Within the fresh fruit segment, those types of fruits such as red fruits and stone fruits lose intensity of consumption.

The pandemic, and especially the confinement in homes in the first months of the year, have driven the remarkable growth of fruit consumption in homes, since until 2020 the trend was negative, according to FEPEX.

According to the data included in the "Report on food consumption in Spain 2020", presented, since 2008 the consumption of fresh fruit in households had fallen for a large part of the products. Between 2013 and 2018, the category fell an average of 2,2%, being citrus, stone fruit and red fruits, which registered a decrease greater than the average. Other products showed a positive behavior such as exotic fruits, melons and watermelons.

Vegetables

Regarding the consumption of fresh vegetables in households, it has grown by 12,5% ​​in volume and 16,4% in spending compared to 2019, totaling 2.955 million kilos and 5.741 million euros. Per capita consumption in 2020 was 63,9 kilos per person per year, 12,3% more than in 2019, and per capita expenditure was 124,1 euros per person and year, 16% more.

The fresh vegetable market has grown throughout 2020, reaching its peak in April when the purchase intensified by 44,04% compared to the previous year. This positive trend is reflected throughout the months, although following a more stable and moderate trajectory than in the first months of the state of alarm. Only the month of August reflects a decrease of 2,91% compared to 2019.

Positive trend

The vegetables most consumed in households in 2020 are those of the group of fruits and flowers, according to the MAPA classification, which include tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, zucchini, peppers, cabbages and broccoli. This group shows a positive trend compared to the previous year, standing above the market average with an increase in turnover of 19,7% and 13,6% in volume. The varieties of roots, bulbs and tubers (onions, carrots and garlic) are the second group with the most present in Spanish households, therefore they represent 1 out of every 5 kg purchased in the category. Likewise, leaves, young stems and pods account for 19,1% of household spending, being the second group with the largest market share in value.

For FEPEX, although the consumption of fruit and vegetables has been strongly boosted in 2020, both in volume and value, it is important to highlight that this segment represents stable spending levels with respect to the spending spent in households on the rest of fresh products and the shopping cart in general.

Households allocated 9,9% of the average budget dedicated to the food and beverage section to the purchase of fruits in 2020, which is practically the same amount as in 2019, with a slight growth of 0,6%. In the case of spending on vegetables, it was 7,2%, 0,1% more than in 2019.

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