ZON Fruit & Vegetables opened the asparagus season with an asparagus tasting session, prepared by five star chefs in restaurant One in Roermond. Director Michiel van Ginkel officially handed over the 'first' asparagus to the representative Beurskens of Limburg and eight mayors from region municipalities. Van Ginkel did not hide his ambition. "With the 720 hectares from over 120 asparagus growers ZON is the market leader (25%) in the Netherlands. We not only want to maintain this positions, we also want to extend it."
Michiel van Ginkel
Asparagus for all the mayors from regional municipalities
Now 15,000 kilos of asparagus have been sold by ZON, which continues the trend of an earlier season due to heated cultivation. Some of the sales are auctioned, a large part goes directly through selected retailers. "We foresee further growth of the asparagus area over the next few years and we want to play a role in it," says Michiel van Ginkel. Last year ZON made a turnover of 16 million Euro from asparagus, which makes it one of their main product groups.
Ron de Greeff and Frans Fredrix also love asparagus
Pierre Smets and wife
The director of ZON believes there is still enough growing potential. "Asparagus are eaten more in the south of the country than in the north, so there is still a large market there, but if the area growth continues, we will also have to look at exporting possibilities." The auction price was between 11-13 Euro per kilo yesterday. Business Unit Manager Michiel Geradts expects the first asparagus from the tunnels around week 13.
Right: Michiel Geraedts
The Horticulture Acceleration Agenda was handed out to representative Twan Beurskens.
Whilst enjoying the tasting prepared by the chefs Edwin Soumang (1 Michelin star), Rene Brienen (Brienen aan de Maas, 1 Michelin star), Paul Pollux (Aubergine, 1 Michelin star), Erik Swaghoven (Valuas, 1 Michelin star) and Margo Reuten (Da Vinci, 2 Michelin stars), customers, local dignitaries and the press were prepared for the asparagus season.
Later this year no fewer than 330 caterers of the group Jeunes Restaurateurs d'Europe - with a total of 180 Michelin stars - will flock to Roermond. ZON proudly announced that they are the sponsor of the asparagus for the main course which will be prepared during the dinner. Second Chamber members will also once again be able to enjoy ZON asparagus during the Nieuwspoort Asparagus dinner on the 22nd of April.
Will Teeuwen (Teboza), Henk Verwoert (Hanos), Jan Schuurmans (Teboza) and Marcel Coulier (Hanos)
Ad Berends and cooperation president Ton Reijnders
The well known health coach Rens Kroes - author of the boek Powerfood - also held a presentation about healthy food. She told the audience to eat five times a day to keep the sugar levels in balance, with a good combination of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Quinoa salad, salmon, spelt bread and organic meat, and lukewarm water with lemon in the morning. The advice didn't sound like a fruit and vegetable trader's average meal. Luckily they found each other in asparagus', which Kroes 'discovered' three years ago, she said. And much to the delight of the author and her partner, those asparagus also raise your libido...
Rens Kroes
