De Groene Ham is a self-picking farm and country store situated in Vleuten, within the picturesque Groene Hart region and near the historic Ridderhofstad Den Ham. Established in the 1950s, the farm began with the cultivation of apples and pears, later expanding to include cherries, plums, and red currants.
The farm’s Landwinkel (country store) offers a wide selection of fresh produce directly from its own orchards and fields. This includes a variety of apples (such as Delbare, Wellant, Elstar, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, Pinova, and Goudreinet), pears (including Doyenné du Comice, Conference, and Gieser Wildeman stewing pears), cherries (Burlat, Merchant, Kordia, Karina, and Regina varieties), red currants, and plums. Beyond fruit, the store stocks a rich assortment of fresh vegetables like cauliflower, endive, various beans and lettuces, bunched carrots, beets, chicory, broccoli, leek, spinach, red and green cabbage, winter carrots, celery, spring onions, tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant, chestnut mushrooms, radishes, and cucumber, alongside seasonal options such as Brussels sprouts, kale, and traditional sauerkraut.
Regarding self-picking, while dedicated apple-picking days are no longer organized, the farm mentions hosting annual self-picking days for fruit in September.
In addition to fresh produce, the Landwinkel features a diverse range of artisanal farmer’s cheeses (from cow, goat, and sheep milk, in various ages and with herb infusions), along with fresh dairy products like milk, buttermilk, yogurts, custard, and butter. The meat selection includes ethically raised beef (RijnRund and Blonde d’Aquitaine), organic Polderhoen chicken, and sustainable Dutch wild game, notably wild goose and fallow deer. The store also carries other regional specialties, such as baking mixes, local beers, fruit juices, potatoes, organic olive oil, Bunzlau Castle pottery, and sheep wool cream.
Visitors can enjoy the farm’s terrace, open for much of the year, offering coffee, tea, homemade apple pie, pure juices, or farmer’s ice cream. A dedicated play area with a trampoline, swings, and a playhouse is available for children. The farm also prepares custom fruit baskets and gift packages filled with its own products and local delicacies. Operating as part of the national Landwinkel cooperative, De Groene Ham collaborates with approximately 95 other farmers across the Netherlands, contributing to the vitality of rural areas by offering quality regional products.