Almost 3.4 million hectares of land were planted to fruit in the EU in 2017, representing 1.9 % of all utilised agricultural land. Nut orchards accounted for one third (33.8 %) of the total area of fruit, pome fruit orchards (apples and pears) a further one fifth (19.2 %) of the total, stone fruit orchards another one fifth (18.6 %), and citrus fruit orchards about one seventh (14.9 %) of the total. The remaining area planted to fruit was split between berries (4.5 % of the total fruit area), the diverse group of tropical & subtropical fruits which mainly includes kiwi, but also figs and bananas (4.1 %), and table grapes (2.8 %).
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Spain accounted for by far the highest proportion (40.1 %) of area within the EU devoted to fruit production in 2017, reflecting its production of nuts and citrus fruit. Italy accounted for the next highest share (17.5 %), followed by Poland (9.6 %).
Almond orchards were the single species occupying the largest fruit area in the EU in 2017: 743 000 hectares (22.5 % of the EU fruit area), of which 85.2 % were in Spain (the world’s third largest almond producer after the United States of America and Australia).
Apple orchards were the second most common single species, accounting for 15.5 % of the total fruit area of the EU. Apples were grown in every Member State. Nearly one third (31.1 %) of the EU's apple orchards were in Poland, a Member State where apples accounted for one half (50.2 %) of its total fruit area. A further one third of the EU's apple orchards were found across Italy (11.0 %), Romania (10.6 %) and France (9.6 %). The share of apple orchard area in Romania was much higher than its equivalent share (3.4 %) of the European apple harvest. A majority of the EU's apple production came from Poland (24.3 %), Italy (19.0 %) and France (17.2 %).
Fresh vegetables were grown on almost 2.2 million hectares in the EU, nearly half of which was in Italy, Spain and Poland combined
The group of fresh vegetables that comprises tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, melons, courgettes, cucumbers and gherkins accounted for a little over one quarter (27.1 %) of this total area. Root, tuber & bulb vegetables, such as carrots, radishes, onions, shallots and garlic accounted for a further one fifth (20.3 %) of the total, followed closely (18.1 %) by the diverse group of leafy and stalked vegetables (such as lettuce, spinach, chicory, endives, asparagus, artichokes, etc.). Fresh pulses (mainly peas and beans) were produced on 13.6 % of the EU's fresh vegetables area, brassicas (cabbages, cauliflowers and broccoli) on 12.5 % and strawberries on 4.9 %.
The areas planted to fresh vegetables in Italy (17.8 % of the EU total), Spain (17.3 %), France (11.8 %) and Poland (10.8 %) were considerably more than other Member States and together represented a clear majority of the area planted to fresh vegetables in the EU in 2017.
For more information: ec.europa.eu