AREFLH and Freshfel Europe examined the main challenges ahead for the European Fruit & Vegetable sector

AREFLH (Assembly of European Fruit & Vegetable and Horticultural Regions) and Freshfel Europe organized the annual joint event online which examined the main challenges facing the European Fresh Fruits & Vegetables sector during this unprecedented period.

 

 

 

Entitled "The road ahead - a sector fit for future challenges", the online event took place on 29th September and was devoted to the new political priorities of the EU. The new CAP (Common Agricultural Policy), the political agenda of the "farm to fork" strategy for the agri-food sector, the evolution of trade as well as new market trends resulting from the COVID-19 in progress were discussed. The European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, opened the conference by addressing the 150 members of AREFLH and Freshfel Europe on the new elements specific to the production of Fresh Fruits & Vegetables in the new CAP.

 

 

 

AREFLH President Simona Caselli said: "The Fruits & Vegetables sector will still be influenced in the coming months by the same topics that have been discussed in recent months, notably Brexit and the implications of COVID-19. The joint annual AREFLH Freshfel Europe event was therefore the right opportunity to review these topics and inform the sector about developments in the coming period ".

 

 

 

Philippe Binard, Managing Director of Freshfel Europe, affirmed that "although it took place under unprecedented circumstances, the event succeeded in bringing together the main stakeholders of the European Fresh Fruits & Vegetables sector to discuss the current challenges and future of the sector. It remains necessary to ensure that the continuous efforts of policy coherence are not lost, in particular the evolution towards a sustainable food and the respect of the recommendation of the WHO (World Health Organization) of consume at least 400g of fruit and vegetables per day per capita throughout Europe ".