Regular suppliers
We have three regular suppliers from whom we buy a large part of the vegetables: de Kievit in Katwijk, Hoeve Biesland in Delfgauw and Landzicht Biologisch in Strijen. These suppliers provide the link between us and the regional network. They transport both for themselves and for other farmers, which keeps the CO2 footprint by transport as low as possible. On Wednesdays and Thursdays we obtain lists with the vegetables that are being offered by the local, biological farmers in this network.
The supply depends on the season: in spring, for example, we mostly have leek, turnip greens and radishes. In the summer months we add beet, endive and spinach and towards the autumn we move on to cabbages and tubers, celeriac, kohlrabi and pumpkins. We are therefore dependent on what is being grown in the region around The Hague at any given time.
In addition, of course, we also look at the price. We want a fair price for the participants of Lekkernassûh and for our farmers. Some products are often more expensive and we can only offer them occasionally in the package, such as cauliflower and French beans. It is also possible that the farmer has a harvest that does not meet the standard, such as a different shape, a product that is too small or a spot here and there (for example, the crooked cucumbers and small peppers). These products are normally thrown away or sold at an unfair price for the farmer. So food waste, but the taste and nutritional value is not less. We therefore purchase these vegetables at an acceptable price for inclusion in our package.

Other suppliers
In addition to our three main suppliers, there are also local farmers throughout the region from whom we buy from time to time. For example de WIJdehorst, Pluk, Framblij or the Bramenhorst. These farmers and growers only grow a limited number of vegetables and therefore can only offer something in the period that the vegetables are harvested. The quantities that we want to buy are sometimes already too much for these farmers to supply. If that is the case, we purchase for example for 200 packages and supplement the other 200 packages with another vegetable.

The order and delivery
On Friday, we make a preliminary order to the farmers based on the supply for the coming week. On Monday morning before noon, we have to pass on the final numbers to the farmers based on the reservations of our participants (that is why you have to register for your package before 20:00h. on Sunday). This way we can still adjust the composition of the package, for example if there is too little of a certain product.Because of the way we order the farmer only needs to harvest what will be sold. Between the Mondays ordering and the Wednesdays deliverance the farmer will have enough time to perform a fresh harvest of the vegatables. This way we always will have a fresh produce and no vegetables will be spilled.

Long term agreements with our gardeners
At the beginning of the year, Lekkernassûh’s buyers agree with the most important growers (de Kievit, Biesland, WIJdehorst, Bramenhorst and Landzicht) on the type and quantity of vegetables that we want to purchase throughout the year. These growers then draw up a harvest plan so that these vegetables and herbs can be included in the Lekkernassûh package directly from their land. We can fill our packages with this, particularly in the months of March to December, and in the summer months we often receive the majority of our package from these permanent growers.

If more vegetables come from the land, we receive larger or multiple units of the vegetables and that is advantageous for us. In the event of a poorer harvest, we also share in the loss by accepting smaller or fewer quantities of the vegetables. This means that we try to share the risk together with the farmer. Thanks to our many participants, we can also bear this risk. Suppose that only 250 packages of Swiss chard come out of the ground due to a disappointing harvest, because the weather was not optimal or because there was nuisance from insects/birds. Then we purchase that vegetable for 250 packages and supplement this with other vegetables for 150 extra packages (in the week that we have 400 participants who purchase the package). We can do that supplement with Swiss chard from another supplier, for example. And if that is not in stock, or too expensive, then we can choose to supplement it with another product. This creates the ‘choice vegetable’ in the package. We guarantee the farmer that we purchase the vegetables, so they can always get rid of them: there is no waste in the food chain. The advantage for Lekkernassûh is that we are guaranteed beautiful vegetables in the package from a local, organic grower that we have known for a long time, with whom we have built up a good relationship, at a good price!

17 March 2025