If you follow the news, you might think the potato market is in dire straits. But according to Felix Molenaar, owner of Molenaar Aardappelen & Groenten, with branches in Haarlem and Oudkarspel, things are far from gloomy.
"The prices aren't fantastic at the moment, true, but anything can still happen. A European harvest can get drowned out, frozen over, or even hit by a harsh winter. And when Europe gets hungry, you'll be surprised where all those potatoes suddenly end up," Felix explains. "This year, the French fry factories played their cards cleverly, buying up the harvest for relatively little money. But let's not forget that in past years they've had to pay top prices. Maybe the grower prices were too high back then, and this is simply the other side of the coin."
© Molenaar, Firma
Farmers can always give away
"The table potato market is a different story altogether. Sales are a bit slow now, but farmers aren't about to give them away. If they really need to, they can still do that in December or January, but not now," says Felix.
"The good news is that the new crop looks excellent. In recent years, we've often had trouble with too much rain or heat. Last week was warm, but luckily the evenings cooled down nicely. Any hotter, and it would have been a different story."
"In the past two or three weeks, demand for table potatoes has been modest, partly due to warm weather and holidays. Baby potatoes and French fry potatoes sold well, but table potatoes were a bit quiet. I expect that to change in the coming weeks. Holidays are ending, shops are reopening, and the weather is shifting. I'm looking forward to a bright season ahead. Autumn and winter dishes are coming back, and those often include a good potato. Hopefully, people will be ready for them again."
Molenaar Aardappelen & Groenten supplies a broad range of buyers: greengrocers, mobile vendors, market stalls, processors, peeling companies, chip shops, and horeca wholesalers. "Besides potatoes, we also carry a wide assortment of vegetables. Everything grown in North Holland finds its way through us—broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, all kinds of cabbages—a colorful and healthy range of top quality. About 90% of our produce comes directly from growers, with the rest purchased at auctions," Felix explains.
Old-fashioned potato varieties
"When it comes to our potato range, we stand out compared to supermarkets. I'm amazed supermarkets no longer seem to care much about varieties. They mainly focus on looks and washability, but in my opinion, the varieties we sell have far more flavor. Old-fashioned varieties like Eigenheimer, Bildtstar, Frieslander, and Nicola are true classics. Each has its own flavor and cooking qualities, making them the backbone of a wholesome meal. That's exactly why we continue to offer them," says Felix.
Together with his wife Esther, sons Rocky and Jim, and their team of four employees, Felix works every day to keep the focus on specialty and quality.
Sales of organic potatoes have dropped compared to a few years ago. "That might be due to the challenges of growing them. Several organic crops failed badly in recent years. But the conventional sector also faces hurdles. Year after year, demand for potatoes is declining. I think about this a lot, but I don't have a quick solution to make potatoes more popular again. In my view, this is exactly the kind of task that should be picked up by trade organizations. We all pay our contributions, yet I hardly see any campaigns promoting fresh Dutch potatoes."
Molenaar Aardappelen & Groenten has been active in the fruit and vegetable trade for over 88 years. The wholesale branch in Haarlem is open from 5:00 in the morning until noon, and customers can also visit the Oudkarspel location in the afternoon. "Both locations are doing well, but that's only because our entire team shows up every day, ready to put in the work," Felix concludes.
© Izak Heijboer | FreshPlaza.comFor more information:
Molenaar Aardappelen & Groenten
Jan van Krimpenweg 1 (hall 23)
2031 CE Haarlem
Tel.: +31 (0)23 5322173 (also WhatsApp)
Second location:
Schuit 22
1724 BD Oudkarspel
Tel: +31 (0) 226 426465
[email protected]
www.molenaardappelen.nl
