After years of experience in fruit and vegetable quality inspections, including at KCB and Vitaal Europe, Ricardo Rosman's career took a completely different turn four years ago when he became a police officer. However, the intense experiences of police work ultimately led him to return to the fresh produce sector. Now, as the owner of Fresh-Check, he works as an independent inspector and facilitates trade between foreign exporters and Dutch importers. "I love the fresh produce industry—this is where my heart lies! I missed the fast-paced nature of international trade and working with fresh products. That's why it was time for me to return to my roots, but this time as an independent entrepreneur!"
Yet, not all aspects of the fresh produce profession make Ricardo's heart beat faster. "One thing that has always bothered me is the claims culture that exists in the Netherlands. It happens far too often that, for example, an Egyptian exporter sends a batch of sweet potatoes, and half of them are wrongly rejected due to alleged rot. I find this unfair to exporters, and I don't think it reflects well on the Netherlands as a trading nation. Through my quality inspections, I hope to restore exporters' confidence so they can trade without unnecessary claims. My reports should provide companies with the assurance they need to enter the market with high-quality products."
Over time, Ricardo's role as a quality inspector also led him into the trade itself. "More and more exporters started asking me if I knew potential buyers for their products. My advantage is that I know Westland like the back of my hand because I've visited so many companies for import and export inspections. This has allowed me to build a vast network. Eventually, I found myself taking on the role of a middleman, connecting suppliers and buyers. I operate on a commission basis, so suppliers don't have any upfront costs. My goal is to act as a reliable contact and provide support to businesses."
Today, many foreign exporters know how to find Ricardo, and he has connected numerous import and export companies. "And across a wide range of products—from apples to carrots, and from sweetcorn to sweet potatoes. Even smaller, local growers from Egypt have started working with me. In the past, they sold their products to large exporters, but now they export directly from their farms, earning significantly more profit. Of course, this was quite a big step for me, but it's incredibly rewarding to connect global growers and importers. My market knowledge and network are key advantages in making this happen."
For example, Fresh-Check has partnered with Food Alliance CO, an Egyptian grower of fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. "This growing company has the capacity to export 1,000 containers to Europe but hasn't yet secured any regular customers in the region. As a quality inspector, I was impressed by their oranges, lemons, and grapes," Ricardo explains. According to him, the combination of quality inspections and trade facilitation is a natural fit. "At Fresh-Check, we go beyond inspection reports and quality checks. We are the link between suppliers and customers in the fresh produce sector, with one clear mission: ensure quality, build trust, and help trade flourish
For more information:
Ricardo Rosman
Fresh-Check
Mob: +31 6 20965200
[email protected]
www.fresh-check.nl