"Netherlands: "More and more local and foreign demand for Asian vegetables"

Asian Vegetables & Fruit from Barendrecht is one of the largest players in the Netherlands in the area of the import of Asian vegetables. The company of family Tse imports Asian vegetables from countries such as China, Thailand, Surinam and the Dominican Republic, but also grows vegetables such as Shanghai pak choi, mini pak choi, choi sam, kai choi and tongho in the neighbourhood of Barendrecht. "This year our own cultivation will increase to about 13/14 HA."

 

Products in which Asian Vegetables & Fruit is strong in are amongst others the Shanghai pakchoi, Lotus roots and Tongkwa. "By means of produce sheets our Asian suppliers know which product quality is expected from them. We have good contacts in these countries and now we benefit from this" Tjonki Tse tells. "More and more clients know where to find us, both local wholesalers and foreign clients."

 

In order to stimulate the consumption of Asian vegetables even more, Asian Vegetables & Fruit will supply brochures and recipes with the products as well. "For instance a product such as Tongkwa (white gourd/Chinese melon) is becoming more popular, but European consumers must get used to cooking or stir-frying this variety. A leaflet with recipes is clearly the answer" Tjonki says.

By means of tests by 'own growers' Asian Vegetables & Fruit also tries to grow vegetables in Dutch glasshouses. Although this is a long term effort there are already two or three products, of which the experiment appears to be successful. The brothers say they are not unduly worried about competition. "We have a high regard for the competition in the Netherlands and we view our competitors mainly as partners. We are much in favour of helping each other as much as possible, for instance by more combined buying during the winter months. As far as we are concerned that cooperation could be a little better!"

 

Siew Tong and Tjonki

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