In the past year the vegetable consumption per head of the population grew to 85.2 kg in Switzerland. Despite this, 2012 was a difficult year for the vegetable producers; the persistent price pressure made it difficult for them.
Hannes Germann, president of the Union of Swiss vegetable producers VSGP, recently declared that 2012 was characterized by persistent price pressure. For many producers this meant that the past year was a battle rather than a blessing. In 2012 the competition within production grew stronger, the VSGP reported, in its yearly overview. It has been a challenge for the union to keep to producers together, working towards a collective goal. Germann called for solidarity among producers.
The harvest amount was average again last year, due to the weather, but was of good quality. The cultivation area decreased in 2012 compared to 2011, by 597 hectares to 14,504 hectares. It was mainly processing vegetables that were grown less (-548 hectares).
