Dutch cuisine is abundant, from fried food to seafood. However, like other Nordic countries, the Netherlands does not have much fruit, and even very little in Europe. But the Netherlands' fruit exports account for 1/5 of the entire Europe, how did the Netherlands, which does not produce much fruit, do it?
Let's take a look at what Dutch fruit is and how it does not produce fruit, but can account for so much fruit exported to Europe.
▲Fruit sold in Utrecht Market in the Netherlands
The Netherlands, which is less than half the area of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, is the trade center of European fruits
The Netherlands has a very small land area, only more than 40,000 square kilometers, and even less than half of the mainland Jiangsu and Zhejiang (both about 100,000 square kilometers), but it has independent geographical advantages.
Thousands of fruits enter the Netherlands every day from Rotterdam
Rotterdam in the Netherlands is one of Europe's largest seaports, while Amsterdam Airport is the gateway for the whole of Europe to air transport fruits and vegetables.
The two ports are home to well-known logistics service providers such as "Cool Control", "LBP" and "Kloosterboer" as well as a large number of trading companies. In addition to shipping services, these companies also provide resale services, as well as a series of services from packaging, storage, etc. It plays an important role in the trade of fresh fruits and vegetables in the Netherlands.
▲The famous Cool Control logistics service provider in the Netherlands
As a result, the Netherlands has become the main trading center for fresh fruits and vegetables throughout Europe, with around 20% of fresh produce from developing countries entering Europe through the Netherlands. Although the Dutch also consume a lot of fruits and vegetables, the Nordic export market is the real trade destination of the Netherlands. Therefore, the total export value of fresh fruits and vegetables in the Netherlands is equal to its total import value and production value, which means that most fresh products are imported, packaged here, processed and exported again.
In other words, the Netherlands "dumped" the European market, and after importing and then exporting, it accounted for 20% of the total European fruit imports.
In the Dutch fruit and vegetable markets, you can buy fruit from almost all over the world
▲The Netherlands gathers fruits from all over the world
As the fruit and vegetable trading center of Europe, the Netherlands mainly imports fruits from developing countries. For example, mangoes and bananas mainly come from Brazil; Bananas and pineapples come from Costa Rica; Avocados come from Colombia, but also fruits from Peru, South Africa, Panama, Ecuador and other countries, all of which enter the European market through the Netherlands.
▲Guangdong Deqing's tribute oranges have begun to be exported to the Netherlands
At the same time, the continent also exports various fruits to the European market through the Netherlands, or to Europe. Among them are tribute mandarins from Deqing, Guangdong, Dalidong dates from Shaanxi, dragon fruit from Guangxi, red dates from Gansu and so on.
Therefore, in the Dutch fruit and vegetable market, you can find tropical fruits from the Americas, exotic fruits from Africa, and various fruits from the continent.
In addition to importing fruits from all over the world, what fruits are produced in the Netherlands
▲ Apples are one of the favorite fruits of the Dutch
According to reports, the 10 favorite fruits of the Dutch are apples, bananas, pears, citrus, oranges, grapes, strawberries, kiwis, pineapples and melons. However, many of these fruits are not produced in the Netherlands and are mostly imported.
Although the Netherlands does not produce much fruit, most of the berries and bulk fruits in the Nordic region are still available. Among them, there are some unique varieties of apples.
Let's take a look at the native fruits that can be eaten in the Netherlands.
- A raspberry full of thorns - Wijnbes wineberry
▲Wine berries are close to raspberries
Rubus phoenicolasius, also known as "multi-gland hook", scientific name: Rubus phoenicolasius, is a plant in the genus Rosaceae.
In addition to the distribution in the Netherlands, it also grows in mainland Shandong, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Hubei, Shanxi, Gansu, Henan and other places, as well as Japan, North Korea and North America.
- Hybrid lulo of tomato and persimmon
▲The unripe dew fruit is covered with fluff
Solanum quitoense is a plant in the nightshade family, because the English name of this fruit: naranjilla lulo, so it is also called lulu fruit, also known as lulu or lulu.
Native to Colombia, the leaves are broad heart-oval and 45 cm long. The leaves and stems have short purple villi. The plant is relatively delicate and should be protected from high winds and sun exposure. Flowers purple-white. The fruit has a citrus aroma, green juice, sweet and sour taste, and is often used to make "Lulu drink"
- A variety of apples and pears native to the Netherlands
▲The Netherlands is a very representative "Dutch pear"
Many apples are also produced in the Netherlands, such as Zoete Kroon, Notarisappel, Glorie van Holland, Dubbel bellefleur, Eisdener Klumpke, Keuleman, Gypsy, Groninger Kroon, Schone van Boskoop, Ingrid Marie and many more.
The more famous of these is Schone van Boskoop, a firm sour apple with dry and sometimes rough skin. The core is small and there are few seeds. Because apples are sour and hard, they are often used in cooking foods such as applesauce, pastries, etc.
The Netherlands also produces many varieties of plums, such as Jutte pear, Brederode, Zoete Brederode, Giezer Wildeman, Zwijndrecht and many more. One of the most famous is the Dutch pear, which looks like a drop of water, which has a unique shape and looks like a drop of water, which is very beautiful.
- Berries
▲Like many countries in Northern Europe, the Netherlands is also rich in gooseberries
blueberry
Blueberries are slightly sweet, very tasty and rich in vitamins and minerals. The harvest period in the Netherlands is from the end of June to the end of August.
Strawberry
Strawberries are grown all year round in the Netherlands. Outdoor strawberries can be eaten in June and July, while greenhouse strawberries are in the colder season. Of course, outdoor strawberries are much more delicious than greenhouse strawberries.
blackcurrant
Sour blackcurrant, looks very beautiful, and is rich in VC, very healthy. In the Netherlands, it is also mainly used for the decoration of desserts.
▲Don't pick blackberries in the Netherlands
Blackberries
Blackberries are often seen in the wild in the Netherlands, and bicycle paths, forests, etc. have its figure, and the peak season for Dutch blackberries is from July to October every year.
However, if you pick it without the landowner's will, you can face a fine of up to 3,000 euros. So, don't pick it randomly.
raspberry
From April to September each year, you can buy raspberries in grocery stores and markets in the Netherlands. It mainly comes in two types: summer and autumn raspberries. Usually raspberries are pink, but sometimes you can buy yellow raspberries in the Netherlands.
cherry
The cherry season in the Netherlands is in June and July. Dutch cherries are also mainly sweet cherries, which we commonly call cherries.
▲Golden plum produced in the Netherlands
plum
Prunes are also a very popular fruit in Europe, and there are many types to choose from in the Netherlands, such as the Dutch "Victoria" and "Jubilee" varieties. Most plum ripening seasons are concentrated in August and September.
Apricots, peaches and nectarines
Although in the Dutch summer, you can find a lot of apricots, peaches, and nectarines in Dutch grocery stores and markets. But most of them are imported, and although these fruits can be grown in the Netherlands, the Dutch climate is not suitable for growth, and only some families with courtyards grow some.
In addition to the above fruits, you can still eat native fruits such as girl's fruit, golden prunes, and quince in the Netherlands.
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