Healthy eating is obviously in vogue, and so are locally grown legumes. "I see an increased appreciation for peas and beans because they are finding favor as a regional superfood, particularly among the younger generation. Peas in particular are establishing themselves as a top seller during the summer season," says Karl-Heinz Holthus, a vegetable producer in the Nienburg region, who is also a direct marketer at the wholesale market in Hanover.
This experienced vegetable merchant markets his fresh produce five days a week on site at the market. In addition to legumes, the current seasonal range also includes several varieties of carrots and Hokkaido pumpkins from the company's own fields. "We started with bunched carrots 40 years ago and they are still very popular with buyers today," says Holthus, who mainly advises and serves regional weekly market traders.
Vegetable producer and direct marketer Karl-Heinz Holthus
As a grower with a focus on open ground cultivation, he is also confronted with today's drought damage. Holthus: "The drought is causing problems for all of us vegetable growers. Despite intensive irrigation, we will have to accept harvest losses of up to 40 percent for certain products. Moreover, we can only pass on these additional costs to our customers to a limited extent, which in turn affects sales."
Similar to many other direct marketers, Holthus has yet to find a solution for his succession. "Once upon a time, we had a daily presence of more than 25 direct marketers on what we call Farmers' Road at the local wholesale market. Unfortunately, times have changed a bit. Had I had a successor, for example, I would have expanded my legumes capacity long ago."
For more information:
Karl-Heinz Holthus
Gemüsebau Holthus GbR.
Brachfeld 1 31629 Estorf
Tel: 05025 / 681 9
Mobile: 0171 / 710 001 9
Fax: 05025 / 813 0
karl-heinz.holthus@gmx.de