To strengthen the negotiating position of Thuringia's fruit and vegetable growers, the European Union supports producers who join together in producer organizations. Producer organizations are producer associations - regardless of their legal form - that must meet certain criteria and have been recognized by the competent body in the Free State in accordance with applicable EU law.

Only recognized producer organizations have the possibility to submit so-called "operational programs" for approval to the competent body. Operational programs must be formulated according to fixed specifications and financed from an "operational fund" set up for this purpose. The fund is fed by contributions from producers and subsidies from the European Union.

Within the framework of the Operational Programs, funding can only be provided for measures that are included in the National Strategy for Sustainable Operational Programs of Producer Organizations for Fruit and Vegetables and which are in line with the resource-saving and demand-oriented production, the increase and maintenance of quality, the bundling of supply and joint marketing