Fresh produce association Freshfel Europe has announced that it will ensure the supply of fruit and vegetables to its customers amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

Freshfel Europe will reportedly continue to deliver safe, high-quality fresh fruit and vegetables to its customers. It said that it continues to monitor the impact of the outbreak on the fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain.

The World Health Organisation has declared Covid-19 a pandemic.

Freshel said that the closure of border crossings in Europe has delayed some of its operations.

The association added: “The closure of restaurants and cafés in many member states, consumers are increasingly reliant on the availability of fresh fruit and vegetables in retail outlets for at-home consumption.

“Discussions are also being centred on securing resources for the upcoming picking season, such as having enough employees picking in orchards and working in packing stations and further down the supply chain.”

Freshel also said that industry professionals have been in talks with public authorities to guarantee a ‘fresh corridor’. This will speed up the movement of trucks containing perishable fresh fruit and vegetables.

It added that operators will maintain the highest levels of food safety and hygiene to combat the pandemic.

The death toll due to Covid-19 has increased to more than 7,100 across 155 countries. The total number of cases has surpassed 182,000 while recoveries stand at 79,000.

WHO has urged all countries to boost testing programmes to slow down the spread of the disease.