In the heart of Hamburg: in 1962 the largest fresh-produce centre in North Germany was opened in Hammerbrook district, close to the vibrant port neighbourhood. Its hallmark feature, the imposing wholesale market hall, reflects this proximity to Hamburg’s waterside. The great rolling waves of the roof of the 40,000-square-metre hall give the building its own special maritime charm. Underneath this sophisticated construction, people turn night into day. From midnight until the early morning growers and wholesalers sell their fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers to a wide range of customers – including the owners of greengrocery shops, market stall holders, buyers for canteens, hospital kitchens and caterers and, last but not least, restaurant chefs.

Freshness guaranteed
Growers, traders and customers all agree that the extremely convenient location and infrastructure of the 28-hectare wholesale market site represent an enormous saving in time: nestling between the major hubs in the city – motorway network, city centre and port – all the routes to, from and around the wholesale market are satisfyingly short. Moreover, the large modern warehousing and refrigeration facilities plus banana ripening rooms ensure that delicate produce from a vast variety of regions retains its optimum freshness and quality.

A Healthy variety
Natural delicacies from every corner of the world: whether you want local cabbage varieties, crisp asparagus from the Lüneburg heath, juicy Spanish sun-ripened oranges or exotic treats from overseas – the listed wholesale market hall is the place to find the fruits of the earth in stunning variety. Hamburg’s star-crowned chefs, for example Cornelia Poletto and Thomas Martin, appreciate the huge selection of goods and buy the delicious ingredients for their exquisite creations at Hamburg Wholesale Market.
Consumers also want a varied choice of fresh fruit and vegetables from all over the world. Their specialist retailers are in a fortunate position. As Wholesale Market customers they can select from the entire range of fresh produce and meet shoppers’ special requests. And if a product should be unavailable from one wholesaler, the enormous flexibility of the fresh produce centre is instantly revealed: the traders work hand in hand and also trade with each other – always aiming to satisfy the customer’s every wish.

Top quality
This claim has a great deal to do with the Wholesale Market’s credible promise to deliver quality across the board and at every stage. Whether the produce is conventionally or organically grown, from North Germany, overseas or the South of Europe, it obviously needs to be checked, and checked thoroughly. The first samples are taken straight after harvesting. After that fruit and vegetables pass through a number of different inspections – placing an extra premium on safety. Imported goods are subjected to additional, specific, extremely strict import regulations. All these inspections to check for freshness, quality, hygiene and pesticide residues are of course welcomed by the traders – after all they face plenty of competition every day. More than 240 market traders vie for the attention of buyers, so they always make every effort to offer the very best produce for sale.

Huge transparency
A look behind the scenes: only authorized buyers are allowed to participate in the lively trading on the wholesale market floor. But recently the Wholesale Market has been opening its doors to consumers too. Its innovative projects and campaigns at street markets, in greengrocer shops, schools and kindergartens – plus some events held at the Wholesale Market site – are designed to involve visitors in thinking about “enjoying food” and “healthy eating.” For example schoolchildren visiting the schools laboratory “SCOLAB” on the Wholesale Market site are able to perform experiments under professional supervision and learn a large number of interesting facts about the ingredients in fruit and vegetables and plant chemistry in general. The “German Additives Museum” is also intended to open consumers’ eyes: the exhibition shows the various flavourings and colourings, enzymes and flavour-enhancers that are to be found in everyday foods. The initiators also reveal healthier alternatives.

The Wholesale Market site is being increasingly used as an events location. Once a year, in cooperation with the gourmet magazine “Der Feinschmecker”, the market organizes Hamburg Food Market – an event for people who enjoy food, to which everyone is cordially invited. The next events for the public are already on the agenda.