Dutch Green, a wholesaler in Amsterdam, is not a fan of starting early. At least as far as citrus imports are concerned. On Friday, they received their first Navelina oranges from Cordero, Spain. "We're a week later than most, so we can guarantee top quality right away," says Hans Tabak.
"Our shipping agents must guarantee this fruit's quality, color, and Brix. We only begin if that's all 100%. Frutas Morell is a great example. They even harvest the oranges with scissors. This is a relatively small company, but are true specialists. Last year, we got the first Navelinas in on November 2; now we're more than a week later. However, that means our customers get the citrus for which they keep returning."
"The only thing still that's not quite perfect is sizing. Because of the drought in Spain, the fruits are still quite small. We're getting mainly sizes 60, 70, and 80. The larger sizes will take a few more weeks," Hans expects.
Dutch Green serves wholesalers and importers. Its sister company, Groothandel Rustenburg, covers retailers and market vendors. "We supply a lot to Turkish and Moroccan retailers. They used to come for lesser trade, but nowadays, they want the best of the best."
"Citrus demand is good, especially for regular oranges. But Spanish mandarins are selling well too. We've started with the first Elita brand Clemenules from our shipper, Aranda. Those are popular and could get an extra boost soon with Sinterklaas," concludes Hans.
For more information:
Hans Tabak
Dutch Green
Mob: +31 (0) 653 228 976
Email: info@dutchgreen.nl
Website: www.dutchgreen.nl