Prominent adds to its acreage: Red Harvest and J.A.M. van Marrewijk to become affiliates

Tomato producer Red Harvest and Tuinbouwbedrijf (horticultural company) J.A.M. van Marrewijk will become members of the Prominent Growers' Association as per 1 January 2017. With these two members, Prominent will be producing tomatoes on more than 360 hectares. For Prominent, this pooling of activities means a 17% increase in its sales volume and a substantial expansion of its packaging and grading activities.

Red Harvest has two tomato production locations: one in the Netherlands' Westland greenhouse horticulture region and another in the Dutch Province of North Holland. A combined cultivation area of 41 hectares, of which 15 receive artificial lighting, is used to grow a wide range of high-quality, full-flavoured tomatoes. In the Dutch town of Dinteloord, Jan van Marrewijk grows vine and beefsteak tomatoes (the latter being his speciality) on 12.5 hectares, 5.5 of which receive artificial lighting. Both growers were already united in their choice of a packaging company (Pack & Co) and a sales organisation (The Tomato Company) both located in the town of Maasland. As of January 1, the sales and marketing for the new members will be provided by DOOR Partners B.V., the sales subsidiary of coöperatie DOOR U.A. (grower cooperative DOOR U.A.)

A return to Prominent

For Jaap Noordam, in charge of general affairs and development at Red Harvest, his company's affiliation means a return to Prominent where he was a member from 1996 to 2007. His reason for returning is as follows: 'As part of a greater whole, we have a better position on the market, and that gives us a competitive edge. Our high-quality, full-flavoured tomatoes also make a nice addition to Prominent's existing product range. That makes it a win-win situation.'

The future

For Prominent, these two new members will mean not only an expansion of its product range with the addition of vine, individual and beefsteak tomatoes but also a merger in its market segment and effective cost management of its grading and packaging activities. Prominent, as well as Red Harvest and Van Marrewijk, will enjoy a substantial increase in their efficiency levels as a result of this coalition and view the future with confidence.

More information?

Sales and marketing for Red Harvest and Tuinbouwbedrijf J.A.M. van Marrewijk will be provided by DOOR Partners B.V., the sales subsidiary of coöperatie DOOR U.A. (grower cooperative DOOR U.A.)

More information about these growers and about Prominent is available from www.redharvest.nl, www.janvanmarrewijk.com and www.prominent-tomatoes.nl.