International Year of Fruits and Vegetables

The International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, also known as IYFV, was observed in 2021 to highlight the important role of fruits and vegetables in human nutrition, food security, health, and the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The United Nations General Assembly designated 2021 as the International Year, with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) serving as the lead agency.

The year promoted diversified and balanced diets, greater awareness of the nutritional benefits of fruits and vegetables, reduced food loss and waste, and the sharing of best practices for sustainable production and supply chains. Fruits and vegetables provide dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, and beneficial phytochemicals, while their highly perishable nature makes careful handling, storage, transport, and processing important for maintaining quality and reducing waste. The FAO definition for the year included edible parts of cultivated or wild plants in their raw or minimally processed state, while excluding starchy roots and tubers such as potatoes and cassava.

The General Assembly proclaimed the observance on December 19, 2019. FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu launched it on December 15, 2020, appealing for healthier and more sustainable food production through innovation and technology, along with efforts to reduce food loss and waste. The year also complemented the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition and the UN Decade of Family Farming. Its closing ceremony took place in February 2022, recognizing activities that had drawn attention to sustainable production and consumption, farmer incomes, and food and nutrition security, as FAO reported.

How to Observe International Year of Fruits and Vegetables

Celebrate by enjoying a variety of fruits and vegetables and learning more about their role in healthy, diverse diets and sustainable food systems. Store and handle fresh produce carefully, consider buying imperfect-looking items that are still edible, and find ways to use produce before it spoils. You can also grow fruits, vegetables, or herbs in a home, school, urban, or community garden, or explore the FAO’s suggested actions for consumers.

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