European Union funding for fruit and vegetable producer organizations is effective in supporting sales operations, but does not help make them more attractive to consumers. This is the main conclusion of an audit conducted by the European Court of Auditors.
The ECA report evaluated the operational programs funded by the Common Agricultural Policy that support these producer organizations. The audit examined whether European money was being well used for the intended purposes.
According to the auditors, although funding has proven effective in boosting fruit and vegetable producers' sales, the same was not true regarding the ability to make products more appealing to consumers. This gap may limit the positive impact these programs could have on the sector.
