Fresh Produce favourites per country
Strawberries in the United Kingdom
Whoever thinks of the summer in the UK, thinks of strawberries with whipped cream. The Wimbledon Tennis Championship in particular is strongly linked with strawberries. During the tournament, about 28,000 kilos of the fruit is consumed. The United Kingdom has for years been the largest buyers of Dutch and Belgian strawberries. Exports in recent years have significantly declined though, due to increased domestic production.
Sweetcorn in the United States
Sweet corn is one of the most important vegetables in the United States. The US cultivates the vegetables almost year-round. Annual consumption of sweet corn in the United States is about 10 kilo per person. That is much more than the 60/70 grams by European consumers. The bi-colour variant has now gained a major share in the United States.
Asparagus in Germany
Germany is fond of asparagus. Almost a third of Germans will eat asparagus at least once a week during the season. In the past year, they ate an average of about 1.1 kilos of asparagus per person. In other European countries, the vegetable is relatively unknown. German asparagus is largely domestic, grown on approximately 20,000 hectares.
Potatoes in India
India has a large potato market. The country consumes more than 40 million tons of potatoes per year, an amount that increases annually by 6 percent. More than 80 percent of the potatoes in the country is destined for the fresh market. The majority is sold in small markets and through roadside venues. The Indian potato production has grown in recent years. It is expected that the harvest in 2020 will surpass 49 million tons.
Tomatoes in Italy
Although the consumption of tomatoes has dropped slightly in recent years, the vegetable is still among the most important in Italy. Italian cuisine simply can’t do without tomatoes. In the mid-18th century, there was a real tomato culture in Italy, while the vegetables didn’t reach European tables until the 20th century. Production in the country amounts to almost one million tons, most of which is destined for domestic consumption. The Italian consumption of tomatoes per capita last year was 16 kg, while still at 21 kilos in 2011. In comparison: In Belgium, consumption is at 10.4 kilograms per capita.
Coconuts in Thailand
In Thailand, you'll come across fresh coconuts anywhere you go. On the beach there are lots of coconut trees, but there are also many plantations where coconuts are grown professionally. In Thailand, the coconuts are sold on the street. The coconut is very versatile. It’s used to make coconut oil and coconut milk, widely used in Thai cooking. Coconut oil is becoming increasingly popular, because it is a saturated fat and therefore the only vegetable oil suitable for heating because it remains stable at high temperatures.
Chicory in Belgium
Belgium is the birthplace of chicory. Consumption in the Netherlands is about three kilos per capita, though twice as high in Belgium. In Germany, for example, only 400 grams per capita is consumed. Belgium is one of the most important chicory producers in the world. In recent years, chicory acreage declined, and it is expected that cultivation will continue to drop.
Garlic in China
China is the land of garlic. The country is the largest exporter of garlic worldwide, and domestic consumption is high. On average, the Chinese eat ten cloves of garlic a day. When the Summer Olympics were held in China in 2008, an MP complained of the odour of taxis in Beijing. Taxi drivers were explicitly asked not to eat any more garlic. The unpleasant smell of garlic in the taxis is in fact a common complaint of tourists. Chinese garlic also contains less Allicine, a type of antibiotic that causes bad breath.