Special
Greenhouse Vegetables
Peter Stafleu and Ruud den Boer at Fruit Logistica
Ruud den Boer, Oxin Growers:
“It’s a good thing this isn’t my first fruit and vegetable sector job” Ruud den Boer landed a dream job in October. He joined Oxin Growers as Greenhouse Vegetables Commercial Manager. Since times are turbulent in the greenhouse vegetable market, he was able to start immediately. Fortunately, Ruud is not unfamiliar with the sector.
H
e used to work in the packaging industry, and for the last decade, held various positions in the fruit and vegetable packaging sector. “I used to sell those products to growers; now I work for them,” he begins. Ruud joined the Dutch grower cooperative when the Van Nature and Best of Four merger, which started two years ago, was still in full swing. “After a short time at a temporary location, we’ve been in our new office since March, where the merger continues rapidly,” says Ruud.
These new premises have transformed Oxin Growers into a fully-fledged organization, adds Peter Stafleu. He is this Dutch growers’ cooperative’s Top and Soft fruit, Organic, and Openfield Vegetable Commercial Manager. Peter sat in on the discussion we had with Ruud at Fruit Logis60
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tica. Ruud: “I already knew many of the growers and trading companies and many people within Oxin Growers, like Peter. Now, we’re in one building, on one floor, with one canteen. That shortens the lines even more, and there’s a positive vibe.”
smiling.
Nevertheless, the current market situation is extreme, even for the Oxin Growers team. “Yet we consider it like this: what’s not possible today might be tomorrow.” Oxin Growers is also dealing with the many external factors as well as possible. And they try to remain well connected within the entire chain even though nobody can really change what is happening. “With what they now know, growers may press for a gas price of, say, EUR0.50. A year ago, they certainly wouldn’t,” says Ruud.
That positive vibe is by no means common to the whole sector at the moment. There are many concerns. At the trade show, the ADDED VALUE energy topic was foremost in everyone’s Oxin Growers is one of the few Dutch minds, as were the rising costs for many growers cooperatives that participated other things. In his new role, Ruud and his in Fruit Logistica. Why did they choose to team discuss these issues with growers do so? Ruud and Peter say they wanted to and traders every day. According to Ruud, talk about current issues face-to-face with Oxin Growers plays a ‘sparring partner’ people, especially now that the market is role. “Since I started, I’ve had some diffi- so tense. Also, Oxin Growers intended to cult conversations,” he admits. “It’s a good show what added value they have to offer. thing this isn’t my first fruit and vegetable “And we certainly have that: a bit of paysector job. I’m used to it by now,” he adds, ment security, guaranteed sales, trying
