At AGF-Overtoom in Amsterdam, the supply of Turkish fruits and vegetables is arriving steadily. "We are currently receiving plenty of pomegranates and Sultana grapes, along with Turkish vegetables like eggplants, zucchini, and peppers," says Mustafa Ozdemir. The manager of the Amsterdam-based wholesaler is currently out of action due to a broken arm, but his wife and son are taking over in his absence.
"Since 2014, we have been importing directly from Turkey ourselves, with two shipments arriving in Amsterdam every weekâon Mondays and Thursdays. This way, we can guarantee our customers fresh Turkish fruits and vegetables. From tomatoes to peppers and pomegranates, we really stand out thanks to these direct imports," Mustafa explains. "This year's harvest in Turkey is quite good, and, unlike in Spain, we haven't faced any extreme weather. However, prices for Turkish grapes and pomegranates are significantly higher than last year."
AGF-Overtoom traditionally carries Turkish pomegranates until February. "Turkish customers, in particular, have a strong preference for Turkish products, but our sales rest on three pillars: our export division, which has been growing rapidly in recent years; market stall sales to vendors and ethnic shops; and deliveries to the catering industry in the 'greater Amsterdam' area," Mustafa says.
The long-awaited restructuring of the Food Centre is welcomed by Mustafa. "For us, this cannot happen soon enough, as we have been prepared for it for a long time. AGF Overtoom is happy to support this development, although I'm not sure if I'll still be at the helm of the company when it happens," Mustafa concludes.
For more information:
Mustafa Ozdemir
AGF Overtoom
Central Wholesale Market 131
1051 LJ Amsterdam
Tel: +31 (0)20 486 5348
[email protected]
www.agfovertoom.nl