The fruit and vegetable industry in Spain

1. Spain, a fruit and vegetable growing country
• Fruit and vegetables constitute the leading sector in Spanish agriculture, accounting for 59% of Final Plant Production (which includes the major industries: cereals, olives, etc.) and 34% of Final Agricultural Production (which also includes livestock farming), according to data from 2021, from the Sub-Directorate General of Statistics of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

• Spanish produces around 27 million tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables, of which 54% corresponds to vegetables, 38% to fruit and 8% to potatoes. Approximately 60% of fruit and vegetable production is destined for export and the rest for the domestic market.

• Exports. First industry of the agri-food trade balance. In 2021 it exceeded 15.68 billiono Spanish exports of fresh fruit and vegetables in 2021 experienced a year-on-year growth of 2.6% in volume and 7.4% in value, totalling 13.4 million tonnes and 15.68 billion euros respectively, according to data from the Customs and Excise Department, released yesterday. 94% was destined for the EU and the United Kingdom, highlighting the importance of the European market for the Spanish industry, especially the EU market, which continues to sustain exports.o Vegetable exports in 2021 increased, compared to 2020, by 1.6% in volume, totalling 5.7 million tonnes, and by 9% in value, totalling 6,576 million euros, with pepper being the vegetable most sold abroad, with 853,582 tonnes (+1%) and 1,270 million euros (+9.5%), followed by lettuce, with 811,703 tonnes (+6%) and 827 million euros (+18%), reinforcing the importance of these two products in national fruit and vegetable production, compared to the decline in tomato, with 6% less exported in 2021, totalling 662,497 tonnes, although in value it grew by 4%, with 976 million euros.

o Foreign sales of fruit grew by 3% in volume and 6% in value, totalling 7.6 million tonnes and 9,104 million euros, with strawberry growing by 721 million euros (+23%) and stone fruit, with peach and nectarine leading the way with exports of 442 million euros (+11%) and 490 million euros (+9%) respectively. On the other hand, apple sales fell by 8% to 90 million euros.

o By autonomous region, Andalusia remains the leading exporter, with 4.5 million tonnes, 1% more than the previous year, worth 6,052 million euros (+7%), followed by the Valencian Community, with 3.9 million tonnes (+1%) and 4,253 million euros (+7%), Murcia, with 2.7 million tonnes (+5%) and 2,992 million euros (+5%) and Catalonia, with 1 million tonnes (+5%) and 1,120 million euros (+13%).

2. Spain: the market garden of Europe. Europe's largest fruit and vegetable producer and exporter
Spanish production of fresh fruit and vegetables, according to FAO data for 2019, amounted to 31.1 million tonnes (data that includes fresh and industrial production such as tomatoes for processing and wine grapes). Spain is the largest producer of fruit and vegetables in the EU, followed by Italy with 27.5 million tonnes and France with 20.6 million tonnes.

Spain is also the leading exporter in the EU. Intra-EU trade in fresh fruit and vegetables reflecting exports and imports between EU Member States, including re-exports, stood at 36.7 million tonnes in 2020, according to data from Eurostat's Statistical Office. Spain is the EU's leading supplier of fruit and vegetables, accounting for 29% of total intra-EU trade in fruit and vegetables. It is followed by the Netherlands with 23%.

3. A major player on the world fruit and vegetable scene
World production of fruit and vegetables stands at 1,837 million tonnes, according to the latest consolidated data from the FAO for 2019, which represents an increase of 0.8% compared to the previous year, but a slight decrease compared to two years ago, so a stabilisation is observed, with China, India and the United States remaining as the world's leading producers, and Spain occupying eighth place.

In the last five years for which official statistics are available, there has been little change in world fresh fruit and vegetable production data. In 2015, production amounted to 1.8 billion tonnes, which increased to 1,824 million tonnes in 2016 and 1,852 million tonnes in 2017. In 2018 there was a slight decline of 1.7%, and in 2019 there has been an increase of 0.8% to 1,837 million tonnes, showing a stabilisation, which is also reflected among the main producing countries.Since 2015, the ranking of the main fresh fruit and vegetable producing countries has remained unchanged, with China leading the way with 694 million tonnes, accounting for 40% of the total, mainly dedicated to supplying the local population. India is a distant second with 197 million tonnes, 11% of the total, the bulk of which is also destined for domestic consumption.

The third position is held by the United States with 66 million tonnes, followed by Turkey with 50 million tonnes, Brazil with 46 million tonnes, Russia with 38 million tonnes, Mexico with 36 million tonnes and Spain with 31 million tonnes, the same amount as Ukraine. The tenth place is occupied by Egypt with 30 million tonnes, according to FAOSTAT data, processed by FEPEX.

4. Population retention in rural areas
At a time when the abandonment of rural areas is a constant, the fresh fruit and vegetable production and marketing industry makes an important contribution to the territorial, social and economic structuring of this rural environment in 
Spain and, by extension, in Europe.

It helps to fix the population in rural areas as it is present in most of the Autonomous Communities and occupies a relatively small part of the surface area. The fruit and vegetable industry is characterised by its variety and diversity, both in terms of agro-climatic regions, production areas and agricultural systems, which allows it to be present in all the autonomous communities and to offer the market a large number of products, both in terms of species, varieties, production methods and formats within each species.

Because of its labour-intensive nature and the high added value generated by its production, it also contributes to the economic structuring of the regions. The direct employment generated by the fruit and vegetable industry is estimated at 280,000 workers in annual terms affiliated to the Social Security Special System for Employed Agricultural Workers, which represents more than half of the national agricultural employment, estimated at 409,113 workers in annual terms according to data from the Ministry of Employment and Social Security.

To the direct employment generated by fruit and vegetable production must be added the figure of 150,000 workers in processing work at source and other complementary activities, so it can be concluded that the industry represents more than 50% of national agricultural employment.

5. Diversity of supply
Spanish fruit and vegetable production is characterised by a great diversity of products, and within each product, there are different species, varieties, formats, etc. .... Diversity that sets it apart from other major fruit and vegetable exporting countries.

Spanish vegetable exports are made up of more than 92 products and more than 120 fruits.

6. Wide range of calendars - reliable supplier all year round
The diversity of the fruit and vegetable supply is driven by the diversity of agro-climatic regions, production areas and agricultural systems, which allows Spain to have wide marketing calendars and therefore to have an almost permanent presence in the market. A large group of products is exported from areas that are very far apart, e.g. peaches from Huelva to Lleida.

7. High production and export volumes to supply all types of customers and markets
Spanish exports exceeded 13.4 million tonnes in 2021, reinforcing its position as Europe's leading fruit and vegetable exporter. The large volumes offered by the Spanish market garden make it possible to satisfy the demands of small English distributors or large supermarket chains.

8. Ability to adapt to consumer demands
The Spanish industry has adapted to the evolution of market demand, as can be seen in the rapid growth in the production of certain fruits and vegetables that have seen strong growth in demand in European markets.Examples include raspberries, which have increased from 79 million euros in 2010 to 346 million euros in 2017 and 458 million euros in 2021; broccoli, which has allowed the export of cabbage to increase from 290 million euros in 2011 to 631 million euros in 2021, or the flat peach, which has allowed the export of peaches to increase in recent years from 228 million euros to 442 million euros in 2021.

9. The shortest value chain to supply Europe
A very high percentage of the food we consume comes from distant markets. This has a high cost of transport, whether by sea or road, carbon footprint, time... Long value chains are much more exposed at times when there is a global problem. Spain offers the shortest value chain to supply Europe with fruit and vegetables all year round.

10. Food sovereignty
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has exposed the EU's deficit in essential agricultural raw materials. The lack of food sovereignty does not extend to the fruit and vegetable industry, especially because of the high Spanish production. The Spanish industry is a reliable and experienced supplier, which produces and exports within the EU framework and with mainly EU inputs, unlike production industries that are highly dependent on third countries.

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