23. #fruitandveg : Fruit & vegetables in Europe: innovation, tradition, nutrition

Few of us let a day go by without enjoying European fruit and vegetables at our table. The EU’s production of fruit and veg is at the core of its Common Agricultural Policy: as well as feeding Europeans, it’s exported far and wide beyond the single market. For the episode of Food for Europe, we visit a hi-tech pepper production facility at a greenhouse in the Netherlands with industry representative Wim Rodenburg, and we hear from Giulia Montanaro, who works for an apple producer association in northern Italy and tells us about the region’s centuries of cultivation of fruit prized across the world. Nutritionist Jürgen König and European Commission DG AGRI director for markets Pierre Bascou provide their policy perspectives on this important industry. Our programme presents examples of the sector’s success, competitiveness and commitment to quality, as well as busting some myths and misconceptions regarding production capacity, environmental impact, promotion to consumers and protection for producers.