Europe stands as a significant player in the global agricultural landscape, particularly known for its fresh produce. In 2024, the European Union (EU) achieved a vegetable harvest of 62.2 million tonnes, marking a notable increase of 6% from the previous year’s 58.8 million tonnes, according to Eurostat data. This impressive figure underscores the region’s agricultural capacity and the vitality of its agricultural sector. The production landscape is dominated by a few key countries, with Spain leading the way as the top vegetable producer for a decade, contributing 14.8 million tonnes in 2024, an increase from 13.5 million tonnes in 2023. Italy follows closely behind with a production of 13.9 million tonnes, while France stands third with 5.8 million tonnes, highlighting the concentration of vegetable production within a few nations.
In examining the top producers, it’s noteworthy that the leading three countries—Spain, Italy, and France—collectively account for 55% of the total EU vegetable harvest, demonstrating a stark contrast in output levels between them and other EU nations. The remaining positions in the top five are occupied by Poland, which produced 5.23 million tonnes, and the Netherlands, with 5.1 million tonnes, again showing the skewed distribution of vegetable production in favor of a select few countries. In stark contrast, smaller producers like Luxembourg (10,530 tonnes), Estonia (28,210 tonnes), and Malta (45,770 tonnes) struggle to contribute significantly to the EU’s total agricultural output.
A closer look at specific vegetable categories reveals growth in several key segments in 2024 compared to 2023. Notably, tomato production rose by 5% to reach 16.8 million tonnes, with Italy dominating as the largest producer, accounting for 36% of the total with 6 million tonnes. Meanwhile, carrot output increased by 6% to 4.7 million tonnes, with Germany stepping ahead as the top producer, contributing 850,580 tonnes, a title formerly held by Poland until 2019. Onion production surged on an 11% trajectory, with the Netherlands responsible for roughly 26% of the total harvest, yielding about 1.8 million tonnes.
On the fruit front, the EU reported a total production of 24.3 million tonnes of fruits, berries, and nuts in 2024, which marks a slight decline of 2% from the previous year’s figure of 24.72 million tonnes. Italy emerged as the leading fruit producer, yielding 5.4 million tonnes in 2024, surpassing its previous year’s harvest of 4.95 million tonnes. Spain and Poland trailed, with 4.3 million tonnes and 4.1 million tonnes, respectively. This trio’s production accounts for over half of the EU’s total fruit yield, showcasing the dominance of these countries in fruit agriculture.
Among the various types of fruits cultivated, apples topped the list as the most harvested fruit within the EU, amounting to 11.6 million tonnes. Notably, Poland was a significant contributor, yielding 3.39 million tonnes, representing 29% of the total apple harvest. Other important apple producers include Italy and France, which produced 2.4 million tonnes and 1.99 million tonnes, respectively. Pear production also revealed Italy’s strength, as it produced nearly 2 million tonnes in 2024, claiming nearly a quarter of the EU’s total pear yield.
Finally, the peach sector illustrated the collaborative efforts of Spain, Italy, and Greece in fruit production, as they collectively accounted for 91% of the EU’s total peach harvest of 2.2 million tonnes. Specifically, Spain led with 37%, while Italy and Greece contributed 33% and 21%, respectively. Overall, the EU’s agricultural output in fruits and vegetables reflects a keen reliance on a few countries, solidifying the significant role that Spain, Italy, and Poland play within the European agricultural framework, while illuminating the challenges faced by smaller nations in this sector.
