Fall in Spanish consumption of all fruit and vegetable groups in 2022

In 2022, Spaniards consumed 12.2% less fresh fruit and 13.4% less fresh vegetables in volume compared to the previous year. This was the case across all categories. This is the finding of the Food Consumption Report published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, analysed by Fepex, which divides fresh vegetables into five groups: fruits and flowers; leaves, young stems and pods; estate; bulbs and tubers; mushrooms and other vegetables. The highest consumption in homes was for the group fruits and flowers, which includes tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, courgettes, peppers, cabbage and broccoli. Its share in volume reaches almost one of every two kilos on the market (49%) and maintains a downward trend this year, with a decline of 14.1% of kilos. In value, the trend is also downward, with a decline of 1.5%.

Varieties of vegetables such as roots, bulbs and tubers (onions, carrots and garlic) are the second most important group of fresh vegetables in the baskets of Spanish households, representing almost one in every five kilograms purchased in the category ( 19.6%). For its part, its market share in value is somewhat lower (13.8%). These fruits fell 13.2% in volume and 5.8% in value.

The third most consumed group of products within vegetables is that of leaves, tender stems and pods, with a total 13.3%, being the second group with the highest market share in value with a participation of 18.9%. In this group are green beans, asparagus, leafy vegetables, lettuce, escarole and endive. The decrease in consumption in 2022 has been 12.4% in volume and 6.2% in value.

Regarding fresh fruits, the highest consumption was for citrus, followed by exotic fruits (banana, kiwi, avocado, pineapple and cherimoya), pome fruit, stone fruits, berries, melons and watermelons and other fruits. The volume consumed decreases in all categories, but not the value. There was a rise in value of sales of exotic fruits, stone fruit, berries and melons and watermelons.

Citrus fruits (orange, lemon, tangerine and grapefruit) are the types of fresh fruit that are most purchased, accounting for just over a quarter of the market volume (26.9%) and 19.1% of the value. Compared to 2021, both in volume and in value, there was a fall (-8% in volume and -4.3% in value).