The wet weather in large parts of Southern Europe sometimes presents fruit importers with major challenges. "At the procurement level, we look back on a very difficult organic citrus campaign. In Spain, it was too dry in the summer, then too wet. After the floods in Murcia, we are again facing rising prices. It was possible to switch to Italy, but the weather there has also affected the quality and shelf life of the goods," reports Beat Baier (right), department manager at Foodextra, based at the Engrosmarkt in Zurich.
The specialized organic company was founded in 2020 and was created as a result of the takeover of the long-established company Alex Chatelain by the Jehle Group. The range of products offered by the organic specialist includes not only fresh fruit and vegetables but also frozen goods. Baier: "A certain growth can be seen in both segments. Particularly at the regional weekly markets, great value is placed on quality. We have noticed that younger market traders in particular are keen to offer a wide range of organic products alongside conventional products." The synergy between Foodextra and its parent company Jehle Engros lies primarily in the fact that both organic and conventional products can be purchased from a single source.
In December and February, the Italian-origin Bio-Castelfranco was relatively expensive, which had a corresponding effect on demand. The same applied to cauliflower and broccoli.
Meanwhile, organic farming in Switzerland is also growing slightly. "We are seeing a great deal of interest in organic farming among producers. You can certainly get higher producer prices with organic products, but this should be considered in relation to the additional work involved. In greenhouse cultivation, for example, this is extremely low, which is why I see the greatest growth potential in this segment," Baier continues.
Organic papaya and lemons
Organic sliced produce on the rise
In addition to organic produce sold in boxes, Foodextra also procures and markets sliced fruit and vegetable products. The entire range of products is procured from permanent partners and manufacturers within a 150-kilometer radius. "The demand for sliced products is increasing, especially in the out-of-home catering sector. In Zurich and the surrounding area, school canteens and the like have to fulfill a certain quota of up to one-fifth of total consumption, which drives up demand accordingly. Except for air freight, almost the entire organic variety is also sold as sliced goods. However, the most popular exotic fruits, such as mangoes and pineapples, are now also available as sea freight, which is in no way inferior to air freight in terms of quality," the company concludes.
Organic vegetables
Photo credit: Foodextra gmbh
For more information:
Beat Baier
Foodextra
Engrosmarkt Zurich
Tel: +41 44 273 25 33
e-mail: info@foodextra.ch
Web: www.foodextra.ch