Rhineland-Palatinate Minister calls for more appreciation of local food

Christine Schneider, the Minister of Agriculture for Rhineland-Palatinate, has called for greater appreciation of domestic and regional food products. She noted that while there was a significant increase in the purchase of organic and regional foods during the COVID-19 pandemic, consumer behavior has since regressed.

Schneider argued that food prices in Germany are too low when compared to the average income and other European member states. She expressed concern that excessively low prices lead to a loss of appreciation for the production of healthy, local food, which in turn impacts domestic agriculture and regional production.

While stating she does not wish to dictate dietary choices to citizens, the CDU politician emphasized the need to raise awareness regarding food production. She observed that in neighboring countries like Austria and France, supermarket shelves are predominantly stocked with domestic products, a trend she believes stems from consumer commitment rather than legislation.