PRODUCTION OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN GERMANY

PRODUCTION OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN GERMANY Seminar “Marketing in Fresh fruit and vegetables” Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Georg-August-Universität of Göttingen, Germany Cristina Castillo Pinilla David Corbalán Carpes Miriam Sánchez

CONTENTS Introduction Principal productives regions Principal products Government policies and support systems of organic agriculture German market of organic FF&V Importations and exportations of FF&V Conclusions

INTRODUCTION Germany is the country with longest tradition in organic agriculture. The German market is one of the biggest in the World. Sometimes, the subsidies do not compensate the high costs of the agriculture. The organic agriculture carries conscience. The intensive agriculture is very criticized.

PRINCIPAL PRODUCTIVES REGIONS 3, 2% of the total agricultural surface is Organic. 2, 9% of the total number of farms, has organic production. 80% of total organic farms in Germany, are members of one of the Organizations Organic Producers (AGÖL).

The majority of the organic farms are located in Baden. Württemberg and Bavaria.

PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS Vegetables and Fruits have a very high value, but at the same time, very low percentage of agricultural land. The potatoes, carrots, beets and cabbages are important vegetables in production and consumption. The most important organic fruit in Germany is: apple.

GOVERNMENT POLICY AND SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT ORGANIC AGRICULTURE Germany is structured in States. Objectives: Production, Certification and Commercialisation. Since 2000 : framework of regulations on rural development program (Nº 1257/1999 CE).

THE GERMAN MARKET OF FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES “Bundesverband Naturkost Naturwaren” in 2006 BASIC VEGETABLES: Potatoes, Onions, Carrots and Cabbage. SPECIALTY VEGETABLES: Tomatoes, Squash, Cucumbers, Cauliflower, Broccoli and lettuce. BASIC FRUITS: - During all the year: Apples, kiwi and lemon. - Seasonal: Oranges, Pears, Nectarines, Strawberries, Cherries and Plums. TROPICAL FRUITS: - During all the year: Bananas and Coconuts. - Seasonal: Mangoes and Pineapples.

THE AGRICULTURAL SEASON IN GERMANY MARCH OCTOBER

DISTRIBUTION BUSINESSES NATURAL FOODS (35%) SUPERMARKETS (24%) SALES IN FARMS AND MARKETS (22%) SALES AT HOME (19 %) [ HANDELSKLASSEN (I) UND (II)]

IMPORTATIONS AND EXPORTATIONS OF FF&V Importations The demand is higher that domestic production 45% of FF&V are imported Principal countries that export to Germany: Spain France Italy Nowadays, no one national product can be offer during all the year The bananas are the more commercialized fruit

Principal importers and wholesalers of organic FF&V: - Lehmann natur - Biotropic - Landlinie - terra Frischdienst - Dennree. . . Exportations Only 3% of the production is exported. Almost all the organic production is consumed in Germany. There is a lot of exportations of elaborated organic nourishing products and stiff products

CONCLUSION Germany is the country with longest tradition in organic agriculture. The potatoes, carrots, beets, cabbages and apples are important. Germany is divided in States, each one present a different way to obtain the money for the Production, Certification and Commercialisation from Government.

The most distribution is on business natural food (35%) and the last one is sales at home (19%) The demand is higher that domestic production. 3% of the production is exported elaborated organic nourishing products and stiff products.

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