Our Japanese product range expands more and more

Several years ago Gert Jan Zonneveld Piek, founder of Rungis, made his first tript to Japan. He soon fell under the spell of the country, the culture and the Japanese fruits and vegetables.

Not long after that trip, he decided to import the Japanese vegetables. “At that time it was quite exciting, are Dutch chefs hungry for Japanese fruits and vegetables?” Tells Gert Jan.

The answer is, yes they do!

It started slowly. But more often we see Japanese fruits and vegetables on the Dutch menu. And that’s for a reason. The quality awareness, the cultivation methods and the taste captures the imagination. The Japanese fruits and vegetables are a true extension of our palate, we discover flavors which we never experienced before. Our true gem is the original Kochi yuzu. This citrusfruit has an aromatic peel and a sublime flavor. For several years now, the yuzu became very popular and loved by the Dutch chefs and for us that’s a good reason to import more of these gems. Sidney Schutte, executive chef at Librije’s Zusje, says about Japanese products: “You can rally taste ‘the next level”. “And the taste is something out of this world”.

Continued growth

Therefor we continually expand the Japanese product range. Thanks to the short lines and close collaboration with our Japanese suppliers, we manage to get a lot of products to the Netherlands. Recently added to our Japanese range, are the different kinds of Japanese vinegars, the square watermelon and fresh young fern shoots. An in the Netherlands unknown vegetable with an extraordinary flavor reminiscent of asparagus, green beans and mushrooms.

Discovering new products with excellent and distinctive features is our focus point
Continue to innovate

“With the in the Netherlands unknown products we gain a distinctive place in the fruits and vegetable sector. Discovering new products with excellent and distinctive features is our focus point. That’s why i regularly visit Japan. During these trips i’m looking for the most unique and tasty prodcts which we as Rungis, but certainly the chefs can continue to renew. “Said Gert Jan.

The quality of their stuff is also three levels highter than before. But what i'm most happy about is the service of Rungis. I have never experiences this in twenty years in the hospitality industry.

Fortunately, there’s a constant supply at Rungis, because we sometimes need three hundred kohlrabi. Not just for De Librije, but also for Bar Senang: fruit and vegetables are wel represented on the menu there too.