The Netherlands has an annual production of 800,000 tons of tomatoes. Of this amount, 12,000 tons are thrown away. Not because they are rotten or inedible but because they are too large, too small, too wide or too narrow. Or because there are too many on a single vine. Then, a few will have to be removed in order to fit the vines into a box. These ‘left-over tomatoes’ are then thrown away. La Place thinks this is a waste. That’s why the La Place restaurant chain is going to work with Prominent’s growers to actually use part of this ‘sidestream’ of tomatoes by processing them into oven-dried tomatoes.
The tomatoes that sales organisation DOOR Partners delivers to La Place on behalf of the Prominent growers will therefore be offered a ‘second chance’. After all, there’s nothing wrong with how they taste. It’s just that not every tomato grown in the Netherlands meets the buyer’s strict criteria. Apart from their appearance, the flavour or quality of these tomatoes is fine. Buying these ‘left-over tomatoes’ ties in well with La Place’s company philosophy because this restaurant chain - just like Prominent - wants to contribute to a more sustainable world.
The ‘Puur Tomaat’ brand
A number of years ago, the Prominent vine tomato growers themselves introduced a soup made from individual tomatoes that had suffered a little cosmetic damage. Later, the idea of dried tomatoes developed. These ‘left-over tomatoes’ are now used to make various products sold to the food service and retail markets under the ‘Puur Tomaat’ (Pure Tomato) brand.
More information?
Curious about the taste? Then visit one of the La Place restaurants in the Netherlands, Belgium or Germany. More information is available at www.laplace.com, www.prominent-tomatoes.nl or www.puurtomaat. Bon appétit!
Source: www.prominent-tomatoes.nl