“Organic market’s booming, but supply’s also growing enormously”

Jeffrey Moret and Cees van Vugt are proudly entering their third year with their organic wholesaler. The first two years, they did so under Marni Fruit’s guidance, but as of February they’ve been independent with TOFF, The Organic Fresh Factory. “We’re very satisfied. Our team has been expanded to six people, and we get positive responses from customers and suppliers to our method of working and year-round organic fresh produce supply.”

“We’re currently in greenhouse vegetables, with which we supply many European retailers,” Jeffrey says. “Especially organic bell peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes have built a good name for themselves by now.”

Besides the domestic organic supply, the company has played a part in the overseas season right from the start. “We currently receive many organic apples and pears from South America, and soon we’ll also start the New Zealand season. There are plenty of apples right now, but the pear market has a bit of scarcity,” Jeffrey says. “We’ll also receive organic onions from Egypt this season. Furthermore, we’re in the process of starting a project with avocados from Kenya. The people there grow organic avocados from March until August, but local growers are often not able to take care of the costs for their organic certificates, and we are going to support our suppliers with that. That’s how we’ll create a supply that helps both parties.”

“We’re carrying a wide and varied organic range. For that, we have everything at our disposal to provide our customers with mixed pallets, thanks to the logistical facilities of Marni Fruit,” the organic trader says. One product still on the company’s wish list is lime. “That product has so much potential, but it’s only limitedly available. There’s some organic cultivation in Mexico and the Dominican Republic, but the majority of that is for the North American market, and the share left over is limited.”

“Besides our European buyers, we also provide customers in Dubai and Singapore with organic product. Additionally, we supply customers in southern countries, such as Italy, Portugal and Spain outside of their season. We provide our customers with full pallets as well as mixed pallets. Fortunately, the organic market is still growing, but the supply is also increasing. Dutch horticulture is experiencing a smaller growth in organic than, for example, Spain, they’ve immediately planted all of East Almería with organic vegetables. But it’s definitely going well,” Jeffrey jokingly concludes.