RAAMSDONK – Ard-Jan and Diny have a contracting company and grow different crops. Yet there is another trade: The Potato Hut. The children gave the impetus.
‘We also want to supply greengrocers, from the ground up in the mouth’
Boredom lurks in the summer holidays. Martijn Oomen and his little brother Stefan came up with something last year: we put together a hut with potato crates, we put spuds and onions in it. On the street side – Kerklaan in Raamsdonk – trying to make money with that itinerant trade. It turned out to be pretty boring: the clientele was meager. Eventually, their cabin turned into an unmanned shop with a cash box included, relying on human honesty.
It was a joke, that’s all. Half a year later, however, a real shop was added to the arable farming and contracting company: De Aardappelhut. Various types of onions and spuds, partly processed into chips, have been sold since this week. Extra fun because of the opening: an action with a lockdown package.
Upgrade Potato Hut
It is not something for just any extra, says Diny Oomen (47), who runs the business. “The large-scale cultivation yields far too little, although we, my husband Ard-Jan and I, have worked very hard for years on optimizing our products, modernizing the machinery and reducing costs. As the last link in the chain you have to deal with such competitive prices that you are not properly rewarded for all those efforts. ”
We not only focus on private individuals, but also want to deliver to greengrocers, who opt for pure quality. From the ground into the mouth.
There is more to it: “The weather is very erratic. Then too wet, then too dry. Because the climate is changing, the chance of a crop failure has increased. With Potato hut we spread those risks. ” Corona made the decision even easier. “Our barns are full of potatoes. They are eaten much less. There are no festivals, catering, other major events. So no chips are baked. ”
Potato hut cuts out the middlemen: the earnings are therefore much higher. On the other hand, you have to build up quite a bit of business to make a substantial profit.
Enjoy at home
“We not only focus on private individuals, but also want to supply greengrocers, who opt for pure quality. From the ground into the mouth. I am convinced that there is a market for that. This time helps with that. Restaurants are closed, so people want to enjoy themselves at home. ”
It is also possible to order online, onions, fries and potatoes can be delivered at home.
South American tuber
Earning some extra topping on your sandwich is of course the goal. At the same time, Diny wants to put the South American tuber in the spotlight. “I have a great love for potatoes. It is fantastic to see that crop bloom, while it all happens underground in the meantime. And you can do so much in the kitchen with a potato. I would like to pass that on to my customers. ”
That is why in Potato hut – completely corona proof, because Diny is only present in the background – there are also cookbooks in which the squeaker plays a leading role.
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