De aubergine is a pear shaped, purple fruit, which is classified among vegetables. Officially it is a fruit, but it doesn’t taste like it at all, as the aubergine has a rather neutral flavour, due to which it can be regarded as a vegetable. Particularly because of that neutral flavour, aubergine is very suitable for various dishes. As such it is an important element in dishes like moussaka, ratatouille and escalivada. In order to make the fruit more tasteful it is spiced. Furthermore the aubergine is very healthy and low calories.

Availability

Netherlands: March - October
Spain: October - March

Also grown by:

• Kwekerij Ros
• Kwekerij Tahsin

Bell pepper is a fruit vegetable, originating from Central and South-America, yet nowadays the best quality can be found in Dutch greenhouses. Bell peppers come, just as peppers, in various colours, shapes, flavours and sizes. The green paprika has a fresh, spicy flavour, whereas the red, yellow and orange fruit are somewhat sweet. The green bell pepper is actually the unripe fruit which, depending on the species, is to become red, orange or yellow. Bell pepper contains large quantities of vitamin C. They are now also available in very small size with an extra sweet flavour, especially as a responsible (children’s) snack!

Availability

Netherlands: March - October
Spain: October - March

Cherry tomatoes are about as big as a cherry, which explains the name. Just as the ordinary tomato, the cherry tomato contains lycopene, an antioxidant that can protect our body against damage from smoke, emissions and sunlight. Cherry tomatoes are fruity and have a fresh sweet flavour and contain a lot of juice. These tomatoes are suitable for salads, but also nice as a snack next to a drink. There are special extra sweet cherry tomatoes for children, the so-called snack tomatoes.

Availability

Netherlands: March - October
Spain: January - December

The courgette is an oblong fruit vegetable with a length of 10-25 centimetres. This vegetable is related to the cucumber and has a soft, neutral flavour. As the courgette does not have a flavour of its own, this usually comes from other ingredients in a courgette recipe. Courgettes are grown in Dutch greenhouses and from mid-June they are also grown in outside soil. Dark-green, yellow and white courgettes are grown. The courgette fleur is a delicacy. This is the early, finger-like fruit, to which the yellow flower is still attached.

Availability

Netherlands: March - October
Spain: September - April

Also grown by:

• Kwekerij Ros
• Kwekerij Tahsin
• Yilmaz A. Kanat

The cucumber is an annual fruit vegetable, belonging with the species of melons and courgettes. The cucumber grows on a climbing plant with large leaves. On one stalk dozens of cucumbers may grow. The fruit is harvested while still dark-green. As it is ripening, the colour changes to yellow-green. Cucumber are grown in Dutch greenhouses, where ideal conditions guarantee perfect quality. This juicy fruit is, due to its fresh flavour, one of the most popular salad vegetables in our country, but much more can be done with it, such as braising and baking.

Availability

Netherlands: March - October
Spain: October - March

Also grown by:

• Kwekerij Ros

Peppers, also called Spanish peppers or chili peppers, are spicy flavoured members of the pepper species. These fruit vegetables also originate from South-America. Peppers grow from shrub-like plants. There is a great variety in shapes and colours. There are red, green, yellow, orange, white and brown peppers, with shapes varying from oblong and smooth surfaced to blocked and wrinkly, for sale. The best-known are the oblong red and green varieties.

Availability

Netherlands: February - December
Spain: October - March

Also grown by:

• Kwekerij Tahsin

The tomato originates from America and appears to be one of the discoveries of Columbus. It is mostly Dutch breeders, who, after endless selection and crossing of many tomato types, have increased the quality. There are as many as 60 tomato types, such as the beef tomato, the vine tomato, roma tomato, small sweet tomato or cherry tomato and also the relative unknown ’Coeur de Boeuf’, a big, somewhat flat and ridged tomato with an excellent flavour. Most tomatoes are grown in Dutch greenhouses. The various small tomatoes are very popular. They are quite tasty and many varieties have been grown, among which even one for children’s taste, as a responsible snack! Other than tasty, tomatoes are also healthy due to being rich in the strong antioxidant lycopene.

Availability

Netherlands: April - October
Spain: November - March

Vine tomatoes ripened on the plant and are harvested including the stem. They are only harvested when also the bottom tomato is ripe, to guarantee fully ripened tomatoes to the customer, which is rather important for the flavour. Vine tomatoes are perfect for salads in which tomato is the main ingredient. The vine tomato is also very suitable for a healthy sandwich with for instance ham, cheese and cucumber.

Availability

Netherlands: March - October
Spain: November - March