Albert Heijn stops flying in fruit and vegetables

From 1 June 2023, fruit and vegetables such as sugarsnaps, haricots verts and passion fruit will only be transported to Albert Heijn via sea container or road transport. 

Albert Heijn buys fruit and vegetables as close as possible and as far away as necessary. Quality, sustainability, food safety and cost price play a role in the choice between near and far. As far as necessary, for example, concerns a product that is not grown in the Netherlands, such as oranges. From a climate impact point of view, air transport is not a sustainable means of transport. 

Sea container and road transport  

Henk van Harn, director of merchandising and sourcing at Albert Heijn: "From 1 June 2023, all our unprocessed fruit and vegetables will be transported via sea container or road transport. You don't make a choice like that overnight: we also have a responsibility towards our suppliers that we work with for decades." Change is needed throughout the food production chain. Albert Heijn does so based on its mission to 'Make better food accessible together. For everyone.' "We believe it is important to handle our share of environmental impact responsibly. We want to keep the impact of our activities as small as possible," Van Harn continued.  

Products from the Netherlands 

Half of the fruit and vegetables at Albert Heijn come from the Netherlands. This share continues to grow by, for example, making even better use of seasons and extending them by using new growing and storage techniques.

Nieuws.ah.nl