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| EU growers cannot compete with large traders. |
| Brusel/Luxemburg , 15.09.2026 |
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| EU funds help producer organizations in the fruit and vegetable sector boost their competitiveness, yet growers are losing ground. Uneven national support, complex EU rules, and an inadequate response from the European Commission (EC) to the sector's challenges are hindering its development. This is according to a report published on Tuesday (15 September) by the European Court of Auditors (ECA), as reported by the TASR correspondent.
Auditors found that fruit and vegetable growers face mounting economic and environmental pressures, ranging from rising costs to shifting market demand. Producer organizations are intended to facilitate collective action, enabling farmers to sell jointly, invest in equipment and infrastructure, improve product quality, and negotiate better terms with buyers. Despite these benefits, producer organizations are losing market share.
Between 2012 and 2023, the number of farmer members also fell by 39%.
"If producer organizations are to help farmers compete with large buyers and offer consumers a wide range of European fruit and vegetables, rules need to be simpler, national support more consistent, and membership more attractive," explained Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, the ECA member responsible for the audit. Fruit and vegetable producer organizations received €1.06 billion in EU support in 2023. They used these funds to modernize facilities, automate production, save energy and water, obtain quality certifications, improve packaging and logistics, and develop consumer-recognized quality brands. However, despite EU support, producer organizations remain in a weak position compared to large retailers.
Larger producer organizations can offer greater volumes and a wider range of products, which improves their bargaining position. In most Member States, producer organizations are neither large nor well-known enough to secure a strong negotiating position. Belgium and the Netherlands are the only countries where these organizations are economically significant.
Auditors found that some EU countries have no recognized producer organizations. In the remaining countries, the share of produce sold through them ranges from 0.8% (Slovenia) to 86% (Denmark). While some of these differences can be attributed to historical and cultural factors, policy decisions also play a role.
Within the single market, this creates an uneven playing field and discourages farmers from joining producer organizations or submitting operational programs to access EU funding.
According to the ECA, the European Commission has identified some of these challenges but has not done enough to address them. In 2024, the agricultural sector contributed €532 billion to the EU's gross domestic product, representing 1.2%. Fresh fruit and vegetables—grown by approximately two million agricultural holdings—accounted for around €80 billion of this output.
According to European Commission data, there were 1,488 recognized producer organizations in the EU fruit and vegetable sector in 2024, comprising 187,372 members. Producer organizations can also form associations; in 2024, there were 69 recognized associations in the EU.
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Address : Euro-Brew Ltd., Hlboká 22, 917 01 Trnava, Slovakia
Tel. : +421 33 53 418 53, Fax : +421 33 53 418 52, E-mail : info@eurobrew.sk |
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