EU vegetable harvest declines, cabbage production drops 21% since 2017

Harvests of six major full‑soil vegetables in the EU have fallen on average 1.1% per year since 2017. Cabbage saw the steepest decline, losing 21.5% of its output – from 3.6 million tons in 2017 to 2.8 million tons in 2025 (CAGR ‑3%). Other crops also slipped: spinach ‑5.8%, leeks ‑8.7%, lettuce ‑5.2%, cauliflower/broccoli ‑9.6%, while carrots fell only 2%.

National trends vary. Poland and Romania, together accounting for half of EU cabbage output in 2017, posted the sharpest drops (‑40% and ‑55% respectively). In contrast, Spain modestly increased its overall vegetable area (+5.6%) and remains the leading producer, while the Netherlands boosted cabbage output by 43%. Germany’s cabbage output stayed stable, and France’s and Italy’s productions show modest changes.

Self‑sufficiency rates stay high and foreign competition is marginal, but farmers warn that rapid phase‑out of pesticide products without effective alternatives could threaten future yields.