Due to inflation and consumer restraint, the organic sector has faced two challenging years. However, markets seem to have somewhat normalized in recent months. In certain product areas, the marketing situation has even been quite pleasing, reports Roy Zylka, an organic wholesaler at the Nuremberg wholesale market and managing director of local company Roy's Naturkost.
Company owner Roy Zylka.
Organic Products from Near and Far
"A good revenue generator continues to be organic ginger, which we source from both China and Peru," says Zylka, who also points to the generally increasing demand for ginger concentrate. Another staple of the basic assortment includes classic storage products such as carrots and potatoes. "Organic carrots from German cultivation are now phasing out. The same applies to potatoes. For both items, sales have been predominantly good. In the area of early eating potatoes, we primarily rely on Italian origin produce and offer not just the usual varieties Spunta and Nicola, but also red-skinned Rudolph potatoes." For kohlrabi, on the other hand, imported goods are now gradually being replaced by domestic products. "We are now going dual-track and marketing predominantly Italian kohlrabi, as domestic produce is still quite high-priced at the beginning of the season."
Not too long ago, the establishment of Roy's & Friends Ltd and the launch of the delicrafter brand took place. The purpose of the new concept is to enrich the catering area with new, innovative products and thus bring the organic theme more to the forefront. Zylka: "There is an increasing lack of stability and continuity in wholesale. Fortunately, we have found a thriving sales market with the supply of gastronomy, catering, and box operations."
Forgoing Overseas Apples, Good Start to the Stone Fruit Season
The Nuremberg organic company is now able to offer exclusively German apples. "We source our apples from both the nearby Lake Constance district and the northern German Alte Land, and now completely refrain from overseas imports. Thanks to the abundant apple harvest last year, we can also offer a wide range of varieties in the last phase of the season, from Jonagold and Braeburn to Idared and Natyra."
Seasonal highlights also include stone fruits in all varieties. So far, there are exclusively Spanish products, followed by Italian and Turkish fruits later in the season. Zylka: "The prices and the qualities have been quite pleasing in the first weeks of the season. Since week 20, we have also been able to offer first-class peaches and nectarines. Despite the high price of early peaches and nectarines at 4.50 EUR/kg, there has been a consistently high demand from the start. In the longer term, we continue to see slight increases in Paraguayos, which is also due to the fact that they are often offered cheaper than the round produce in sales."
Pleasing sales have also been recorded for table grapes, according to Zylka. "This product category has absolutely been fun for us in the last few months. Because the demand for organic grapes has been remarkably high for months. This is also due to the fact that we consistently receive good qualities regardless of the country of origin. The Chilean season is now slowly coming to an end and the first Sicilian grapes are already circulating. We also notice that the season in the Northern Hemisphere tends to start earlier."
Images: Roy's Naturkost
For more information:
Roy Zylka
Roy's Naturkost
Nuremberg Wholesale Market
Tel.: +49 (0) 911 / 50 71 07-0
Fax: +49 (0) 911 / 50 71 07-20
E-Mail: [email protected]
www.roys-naturkost.de