In the quest for lasting peace, and to help
spur on economic and social recovery,
six countries joined together to form the
European Coal and Steel Community in
1951. Six years later, they signed the
Treaty of Rome which established the
European Economic Community (EEC).
The EEC facilitated the free circulation of
goods between Member States and made
food products from across borders easier
to obtain.
During the 1950s, the production and
storage of food still relied largely on
traditional methods. Domestic farming was
commonplace, with many families keeping
their own chickens and cows, as well as
growing their own vegetables.
Few homes had refrigerators, so larders
and storerooms were used to keep goods
fresh. Although dried and canned foods
were already commonplace, there were
none of the elaborate preservation methods
of later years, so consumers ate fruit and
vegetables in season