According to data from the Food Consumption Panel of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA), processed by Fepex, fresh fruit and vegetable in Spanish households in the first six months of this year has fallen by 14% over the same period last year, standing at 3,442 million kilos.
The contraction in consumption rises to 21% when compared to the same period of 2020, the year of the pandemic, and to 9.6% over the same period of 2019.
Fresh fruit consumption in Spanish households between January and June 2022 stood at 1,834 million kilos, i.e. 13.6% less than in the same period of 2021 and 10% less than in 2019, before the pandemic.
In turn, vegetable consumption stood at 1,180 million kilos, i.e. 16% less than in 2021 and 9.5% less than in the same period of 2019. Potato consumption declined by 14% over the previous year and by 5% when compared to 2019.
According to the data, in the first six months of the year Spanish households spent a total of 6,414 million euro on fruits and vegetables, i.e. 7% less than in the same period of 2021.
According to Fepex, this data shows that the Spanish population hasn't kept the commitment they made to consuming fresh fruits and vegetables during the 2020 lockdowns as a result of COVID and that the decreasing or stagnating trend of demand for most fruits and vegetables in the years prior to the pandemic is back.