“I want to be able to take on business, not turn it down”

by

Zonneheerdt has completed the first phase of its new production location. With this expansion, the Dutch company wants to increase its processing capacity for colored vegetables and serve more customers. “I want to keep my regular clients, though, so that’s what we’re focusing on,” says owner Martin Topper.

Zonneheerdt specializes in colored carrots and beets, along with other products like parsnip and parsley root. Its existing buildings were outdated and lacked capacity. The new facility was designed with a strong focus on logistics, from receiving the unwashed vegetables to shipping the washed, packaged end product.

© Zonneheerdt

Automation increases capacity
The new production line should offer more capacity and flexibility. Zonneheerdt often had to work longer hours or turn down customers. Now, former clients are already reaching out again. “I want to be able to take on business, not turn it down.” Automation should not only help produce more with the same number of staff, but also lighten their workload. It could, theoretically, quadruple capacity.

For now, most of the sorting is still done by hand. An optical sorter is a possible next step, but detecting defects in colored carrots remains tricky. The expansion has its limits, though. A grid capacity shortage means not all of the planned cooling space could be realized. That also complicates further sustainability improvements.

More potential for niche products
Besides its five-kilogram packaging, Zonneheerdt wants to offer more smaller packs, like 400g, 500g, and 1kg. Demand is rising for mixed packages containing different colored carrots, too. Martin sees opportunities for yellow and purple carrots, particularly in the foodservice industry, because they help businesses stand out.

© Zonneheerdt

To market its increasing production, Zonneheerdt combines its own crop with shared and contract farming. Martin wants to pre-sell about 90% of the expected colored carrot harvest. “You must grow first and then figure out what to do with it later. Especially with such a niche product; you must know where it’s going,” he says.

Being distinctive with color
Specializing in colored vegetables began after a factory the company cultivated cabbages for moved its production to France. A visit to a food festival gave Topper the idea to start working with colored carrots. Visitors eagerly bought the purple carrots they tasted, but could not find them anywhere else.

People are always looking for distinctive products, but niche products sometimes struggle to maintain space on regular supermarket shelves. Martin, though, sees opportunities for them with smaller buyers and in the organic market.

Zonneheerdt wants to use its new production site to keep growing and develop new products. “We must ensure vegetables aren’t just a side dish. You can do so much more with them,” Martin concludes.

For more information:
Zonneheerdt
Tel: +31 6 533 77 503
[email protected]
www.zonneheerdt.nl

Related Agroforestry News Posts:

  1. The continuous rains have a negative impact on Navi Mumbai onions and their price Market traders in the market for potatoes and onions in the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Vashi are suffering massive losses after tonnes of onions were soaked in the rain. The majority of the items were unable to be...
  2. USDA announces agribusiness trade missions for 2026 As part of President Donald J. Trump’s unprecedented efforts to boost American agricultural exports, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) commitment to expanding and diversifying global market opportunities for U.S. agriculture, USDA will host six Agribusiness Trade Missions in...
  3. Colombian Tahiti lime exports are focused on the U.S. due to high costs and difficulty to ship to Europe “This year, Colombia’s overall Tahiti lime production has been better than in recent years, thanks to favorable weather conditions and an increase in plantings over the last decade. Indeed, the acreage devoted to Tahiti lime production in Colombia has increased...
  4. Azerbaijan accuses Russia of blocking fruit and vegetable exports Azerbaijan has accused Russia’s federal agricultural watchdog, Rosselkhoznadzor, of creating artificial barriers to its fruit and vegetable exports. According to the Azerbaijan Fruit and Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association, recent inspections have grown stricter and less transparent, threatening trade flows...
  5. Indian government revises its estimates of the production of vegetables and fruits 2023-23 The Agriculture Ministry of India has updated its forecasts for cultivation of the most important vegetables, including potatoes and onions for the period 2023-24. According to the revised estimates, there will be smaller production numbers and the onion crop is...

Source: The Plantations International Agroforestry Group of Companies