Vegetables and fruit are good for you and good for society. That’s why Fresh Produce Center actively participates in many discussions where vegetables and fruit are often seen as a solution.
Fresh Produce Center works to represent the interests of its members in The Hague, Brussels, and beyond. The position of the Dutch vegetable and fruit sector within European and global trade requires that the interests of its members are brought to the attention of relevant stakeholders. Legislation and rules for cultivation and trade are mostly agreed upon or decided in Brussels. Therefore, it is logical that Fresh Produce Center is actively engaged in lobbying from a collective interest perspective.
Key issues include food safety, phytosanitary policy, crop protection, import and export policies, increasing consumption, and the Common Agricultural Policy. Activities that Fresh Produce Center is working on or has worked on include:
Green Deal
The European Green Deal outlines the plans the new European Commission wants to roll out to make the European Union more sustainable and combat climate change. The main goal of the European Commission is to reduce CO2 emissions by 50% to 55% by 2030 and to achieve a CO2-neutral Europe by 2050. This also has implications for the vegetable and fruit sector. You can find more information about the Green Deal on our website.
Citrus from South Africa
In recent years, citrus importers from South Africa have faced challenges due to Citrus Black Spot. Fresh Produce Center has been closely involved in this issue. Regular consultations with South Africa and their structured approach have led to a decrease in the number of import notifications, allowing the import of this important product to continue.
Preserving Onion Sprout Inhibitors
The intensive lobbying efforts of Fresh Produce Center and the Dutch onion sector were rewarded in 2017 when the European Commission extended the approval of maleic hydrazide (MH). This ensures the onion sector has access to an effective sprout inhibitor for the next fifteen years.
Building Networks
Membership in umbrella organizations such as Copa-Cogeca or Freshfel provides Fresh Produce Center access to various consultation structures. Fresh Produce Center also takes the opportunity to promote itself at (inter)national events such as the herring party at the Permanent Representation in Brussels, the networking event in The Hague during Fascination of Plants Day, and participation in trade missions.