A new European campaign promoting fruit and vegetable consumption, titled Vegiterraneo, has been launched in Romania. The programme aims to raise awareness of the health benefits of eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables per day, following World Health Organization recommendations.
Running from May 2025 to April 2028 in Romania, Bulgaria, and Poland, the campaign is co-financed by the European Union and promotes Greek-grown tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and aubergines, particularly from Crete. It is coordinated by Greek agri-food consultancy NovaCert, in partnership with eight Cretan agricultural cooperatives.
"The main goal of the programme is to inform the public about the benefits of consuming at least five portions of fruit and vegetables daily, according to World Health Organization recommendations. A second objective is to increase sales of Cretan tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, and peppers in the target markets," said Ioanna Siafara, project manager at NovaCert, during the launch event in Bucharest.
The three-year campaign includes information activities, trade fair participation, tasting sessions, and study visits to cultivation areas in Crete. It also aims to promote awareness of certified European agricultural products and support producers across the EU.
According to Konstantinos Dikaros, Head of the Economic and Commercial Section of the Greek Embassy in Bucharest, "Romania has become the most important market for Greek fruit and vegetables in terms of volume and the second in terms of value. Last year, our fruit exports to Romania reached US$198 million, while vegetable exports amounted to US$48 million."
He added that Greece leads Romania's import value for potatoes at US$112 million and ranks third in volume at 248,000 tons. Greece also ranks first for cucumber imports, both in value (US$43 million) and quantity (32,000 tons), while Greek tomatoes and peppers rank eighth and seventh, respectively, among Romania's suppliers.
Dikaros emphasized that "products from the European Union are subject to the strictest controls, from pesticides to fertilisers and organic certification," noting that this ensures food safety and higher quality.
Andreea Ionita, a nutrition technician coordinating the project in Romania, presented data showing that Romanians consume on average between 300 and 400 grams of fruit and vegetables daily, while only 2–3% eat the recommended five portions. Across the EU, 55% of citizens consume between one and four portions, 33% do not consume any, and only 12% meet the recommended level.
The eight participating cooperatives from Crete are members of the Union of Legal Entities of Fresh Vegetable Producers of Greece and are implementing the EU-funded programme to promote fresh produce consumption in Bulgaria, Poland, and Romania.
Source: Agerpres
