The message on healthy eating finally seems to be getting through to the public. There has been a 7.7% increase in fruit and vegetable consumption, according to The Food and Expenditure Survey.
The survey of 16,000 shoppers also found sales rose 9.5% to £3.82 per person per week."These healthier trends in food purchases are promising, but we cannot be complacent and must continue to encourage these trends through healthy eating initiatives such as the five-a-day programme," said farming minister Lord Rooker.
In consumption terms, fruit grew nearly 12% and vegetables by more than 4% to a combined total of 2.44kg per person per week. Fresh and processed potato consumption also grew modestly last year.
However, David Piccaver, chairman of the British Leafy Salads Association, said the difficult year for growers had pushed prices up as buyers fought to secure quality crops. "There have been price increases in veg, so I can see how expenditure would increase over the year, although that is very much related to getting good quality.
"The hot summer affected a lot of autumn planting, and with the mild start to the winter, crops were too far ahead. Now the exceptionally wet weather means we will still be experiencing problems into the spring."
Crop problems extend to the Continent as well, where vegetables from beans in Hungary to potatoes in Cyprus have been hit by unusual weather.
However, the figures do show an increase in each individual's consumption of fruit and veg, even after the effects of rising prices have been stripped out.
Adrian Barlow of English Apples and Pears praised the hard work by retailers to signpost and support English fruit after the survey revealed a 3.7% increase in consumption of apples. "Other fruits have gone up more than apples, which is disappointing, but apples are a core item and are harder to increase sales."
The survey of 16,000 shoppers also found sales rose 9.5% to £3.82 per person per week."These healthier trends in food purchases are promising, but we cannot be complacent and must continue to encourage these trends through healthy eating initiatives such as the five-a-day programme," said farming minister Lord Rooker.
In consumption terms, fruit grew nearly 12% and vegetables by more than 4% to a combined total of 2.44kg per person per week. Fresh and processed potato consumption also grew modestly last year.
However, David Piccaver, chairman of the British Leafy Salads Association, said the difficult year for growers had pushed prices up as buyers fought to secure quality crops. "There have been price increases in veg, so I can see how expenditure would increase over the year, although that is very much related to getting good quality.
"The hot summer affected a lot of autumn planting, and with the mild start to the winter, crops were too far ahead. Now the exceptionally wet weather means we will still be experiencing problems into the spring."
Crop problems extend to the Continent as well, where vegetables from beans in Hungary to potatoes in Cyprus have been hit by unusual weather.
However, the figures do show an increase in each individual's consumption of fruit and veg, even after the effects of rising prices have been stripped out.
Adrian Barlow of English Apples and Pears praised the hard work by retailers to signpost and support English fruit after the survey revealed a 3.7% increase in consumption of apples. "Other fruits have gone up more than apples, which is disappointing, but apples are a core item and are harder to increase sales."
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