Italy overtakes Spain as the top European broccoli and cauliflower producer in 2008

Italy, Spain, France, Poland and the UK have been the top 5 broccoli and cauliflower producers since 2004

With a broccoli and cauliflower harvest of 460,663 tonnes in 2008, Italy has overtaken Spain as the leading producer in Europe. Spain had been the top producer since 1997. Between 2004 and 2008 Italian broccoli and cauliflower production showed an increase of 11%. In 2008, Italy accounted for 20% of total production in the European market, according to data from the Statistics Division of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN (FAOSTAT).

Overall, broccoli and cauliflower production in Europe totalled 2.3 million tonnes in 2008, 3% less than the volume recorded in 2004.

Italy, Spain, France, Poland and the UK continue to be the 5 most important broccoli and cauliflower producers in Europe.

In 2008, these 5 countries accounted for 75% of total broccoli and cauliflower production in Europe. Italy’s share was 20%, while Spain produced 19%. The remaining 3 countries accounted for 36%.

Moreover, broccoli and cauliflower production in the countries outside the top 5, which represented a quarter of the total market share of 2008, dropped 6.5% in volume over the 5-year period studied.

European broccoli and cauliflower production: 2004-2008

Own elaboration, with data as at 14 June 2010 from: http://faostat.fao.org/site/567/default.aspx#ancor, Statistics Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAOSTAT)

Following Italy, Spain was the most important broccoli and cauliflower producer in Europe in 2008. Spanish production has remained fairly stable since 2004, but dipped in 2008 to a total of 446,000 tonnes, 5% less than in 2004.

French broccoli and cauliflower production showed a 10% decrease over the 5-year period (2004-2008), with a harvest of 378,581 tonnes in 2008. This country accounted for 16% of total production in Europe.

Poland topped 274,904 tonnes in 2008, an increase of 15% compared with 2004. This country represented 12% of total broccoli and cauliflower production in the European market.

The UK lost the most ground between 2004 and 2008, with production falling 20% to 186,400 tonnes in 2008, a volume which represented 8% of European production.

Other countries
A number of European countries showed a considerable increase in their broccoli and cauliflower production between 1998 and 2008, as the graph below shows. Romania and the Netherlands recorded the highest increases in production: 111% and 43% respectively. They were followed by Iceland and Portugal.
At the other end of the scale, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia and Hungary registered significant decreases over the 10-year period.

Production winners and losers: 1998-2008