Vegetable industry in France - Statistics & Facts
Thanks to a temperate climate in its Northern regions, and a Mediterranean one in the south, French farmers are able to grow a variety of vegetables, across over 215,000 hectares of agricultural land. This continuously diverse and voluminous output has led France to establish itself as the third largest producer of fruit and vegetables in the European Union, behind Italy and Spain. The country is also among the largest producer of potatoes globally. This dynamic market relies on various official labels and quality checks, useful for officials and regular consumers alike.
Still, the population is making connections between food, health, and the environment. Indeed, the seasonality of the product is seen as the most important criterion when purchasing vegetables, while an increasing amount of people are concerned with the origin of the product they purchase.
Vegetable consumption in France
The consumption of fruits and vegetables is known to play a significant role in human health, protecting against cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers, for example. However, the consumption of vegetables among French people is far from reaching the 500 daily grams recommended by the National Nutrition Health Program (PNNS). Indeed, since the turn of the century, vegetable consumption has remained unchanged despite incentive campaigns organized by the government, such as the famous “Five a day”, for example.The price of a healthy diet
The relatively high price of vegetables could be the reason behind limited consumption among the population. Indeed, while French households have not been purchasing more vegetables in recent years, they have been spending more money on them, especially if these are organic.Still, the population is making connections between food, health, and the environment. Indeed, the seasonality of the product is seen as the most important criterion when purchasing vegetables, while an increasing amount of people are concerned with the origin of the product they purchase.
