Consumers in the UAE have begun to include more fresh fruits and vegetables in their diet with 50% of the consumers declaring that they increasingly choose foods that help strengthen their immune system. 

 

Some 52% agree with the importance of the traceability factor in the products they consume and 56% think that quality standards are even more important today, according to research commissioned by the Irish Food Board.

 

The government's commitment to address the alarming rates of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease among the population and the recent pandemic, have changed the local consumption scenarios. 

 

Fresh Up Your Life

Fresh Up Your Life, the CSO Italy project funded by the European Union, support the promotion of high quality, nutritious and healthy fresh products in the UAE until 2025, highlighting the themes of sustainability, clarity and traceability of the supply chain. Apofruit Italia, Cico-Mazzoni, Conserve Italia, Lagnasco Group, Oranfrizer, Origine, Unacoa also participate in the programme. Kiwis, apples, pears, blood oranges, pureed tomatoes (considering that pasta is the most imported product in this area) are the products on which the project will focus on.

 

"The increase demand of genuine products and the healthy lifestyle trend, represent an important driving force for the growth of Italian fruit and vegetable which are recognised and appreciated by the local consumers for the high quality" declared Paolo Bruni, President of CSO Italy. "With the Fresh Up Your Life project we will encourage the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables with both B2B and B2C initiatives, rewarding the quality, the transparency and the traceability of our supply chains. The next appointment will be in February at Gulfood, the most important event in the Middle East for the food and beverage industry, a crossroads of flavours and trends at an international level."

 

Food imports

Meanwhile, in the first half of 2022, the UAE recorded an import rate of over 41,000 tonnes of food per day. The figure is forecast to grow due to a number of factors, including the growth of the population, the strong demand for imported products by foreigners living in the country and the significant expansion of the tourism sector with a high number of new hotels and resorts opened in recent years.

 

Italy is the European leader in the production of kiwis with 330,150 tonnes in 2020 of which 246,824 tonnes (75% of the total) are produced by CSO Italy Members. As for apples, Italy is the main producer along with Poland, with 2.6 million tonnes produced in 2020 of which 1.7 million tonnes by CSO Italy Members. Italy is also leading in the production of pears, with 611,000 tonnes in 2020, of which 306,000 tonnes produced by member companies of CSO Italy. Finally, tomato puree exceeded 1 million tonnes in 2020, of which 530,000 tonnes were produced by CSO Italy members.

 

The multiculturalism of UAE - about 88% of the total population is a foreigner - results in different food habits which translate into a variety of cuisines and a diversified demand for fresh products.-- TradeArabia News Service