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\nAs a link in the organic potatoes, vegetables and fruit chain, Green Organics is constantly opening up new markets. A new market has now been found, the cruise ship industry. Together with 8 other companies in the food sector, Jan Groen, entrepreneur behind Green Organics, went on a trade mission to Miami in April 2019, where the Holland America Line moors.
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\nBe the first supplier of organic food in the cruise ship industry. After his visit to Miami, Jan Groen set that goal for Green Organics. ‘Cruise ships usually only spend a few hours ashore, because they leave almost immediately to go to the next location. That makes fresh food supplies a challenge’, says Groen. ‘During the trade mission I got a look behind the scenes. I now know how the routes work and how Green Organics gets the products from the growers on board.’<\/p>\n
Interest
\n<\/b>Groen became interested in supplying cruise ships when he first went on a cruise ship with his daughter in 2015. ‘There was a lot of good food, but not organic. Healthy and fair food, there must be a market for that on cruise ships, I thought. Since then the question has been on my mind, how do you make that possible?’<\/p>\n
Doors opened
\n<\/b>\u2018Of course it is now up to us to work on it\u2019, says Groen, \u2018but in any case the trade mission opened doors for Green Organics. As a participant in the mission, I got ‘top of the bill’ in terms of cruise companies. The organisation – Phaff export marketing, together with the Dutch Embassy in Washington and the Consulate General in Miami – arranged it very well. The exchange between the participants was also interesting. We were there with nine companies, all from the food sector, but all from a different discipline or specialty.\u2019<\/p>\n
Cruise ship industry growing
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With 3,500 passengers and 1,200 employees, an average cruise ship is heavily populated. 400 cruise ships sail worldwide. \u2018Calculate it\u2019, says Groen. \u2018Every day there are around 1.4 million tourists on the ocean. We would like to provide them with organic food.\u2019<\/p>\n
For the coming years, growth of 30 to 40 percent is expected in the cruise ship industry. \u2018It is a huge growth market\u2019, says Groen. \u2018The yards where the ships are built are fully booked until 2028. There are even shipping companies that have purchased yards to manage the construction itself.\u2019
\nThat says something about the growth opportunities that cruise ships offer for the organic food market. And Green Organics is happy to use this opportunity for its affiliated growers. \u2018Green Organics. Together we care.\u2019[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]