EU cancels sales standards for 26 fresh produce

In its fight for a better buying power, the European Union votes for a cancellation of sales standards for 26 fresh produce. The decision will be applied on July 1st , 2009.

During a meeting hold wednesday with the representatives of the 27 European Union members, it has been voted that criterias of shape, colour, size will be suppressed for 26 fruits & veg.

Those fresh produce are:

apricot, artichoke, asparagus, eggplant, avocado, carots, celery, cherry, Paris mushroom, chicory, cabbage, Brussels cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, courgette, spinach, beans, melon, hazelnut, nuts, water melon, leek, peas, plum.

There are still 10 products that keep their sales standards, including tomatoes, strawberries, apples ...

Already many professionnals fear that this measure draws quality of all fruit & veg down.

Some have suggested that it would have been better to keep sales standards and in the meantime to autorize those  "bad-looking" products for retail sale.

Called by fructidor.com, Mr Théo Kampschöer , President of Kampexport the number 1 exporter of cauliflowers in Europe comments:

"This decision will inevitably shake the market. It will contribute to draw quality down. In the same time, the European market will be more open to receive  products from East Europe that is less equiped in processing material. Until now those products arrived on the market from time to time, after July 1st, we will have them everyday !

Will that contribute to level up consumtion of fruit & vegetables ?

Kampschöer adds:

"I don't believe consumers will buy hailed apples or yellow cauliflowers or such "bad-looking" products."

Why not keeping the category 3 and to distribute it to the GNO that helps people in the strret?"