Healthy growth at Prominent nurseries

In addition to Kwekerij Schenkeveld, another of Prominent's growers in the Netherlands – Van Adrichem Nurseries in Westdorpe – is also expanding this year. By increasing their hectarage, both nurseries will be ready for the future. 'As a healthy business, we want to keep growing and investing so we can satisfy customer demand 365 days a year', says Richard Schenkeveld.

Van Adrichem now produces tomatoes in Westdorpe (Municipality of Terneuzen, The Netherlands) on 9 hectares; phase two will give the company 10.6 hectares under glass. The first pile was driven on Friday, 13 May 2016. According to the schedule, the company will start planting large vine tomatoes on 1 October 2016. At its new location (Schenkeveld IV), Schenkeveld Nurseries is adding 44 hectares under glass in the Dutch town of Rijsenhout as part of the PrimA4a plan for developing greenhouse horticulture. This will more than double its current hectarage. The plans call for building four 11-hectare greenhouses in a cloverleaf pattern so that the processing, water and energy facilities will be located at the centre of the operation. Construction on the first phase (two of the four 11-hectare blocks) will start next February. The first vine tomatoes are expected to be harvested at Schenkeveld IV in December 2017.

Equipped with supplemental lighting

The new greenhouses for both Schenkeveld and Van Adrichem are being equipped with supplemental lighting. 'Lighting with 100% mains current is profitable at this time due to the low rates for electricity', says Sjoerd van Adrichem. 'Together with Prominent, we'll be looking into which segments we will grow with supplemental lighting.'

Meeting customer demand year round

These expansions are making both nurseries ready for the future. As Richard Schenkeveld puts it: 'Taking advantage of economies of scale and producing 365 days a year to satisfy customer demand are trends that we see in greenhouse vegetable production. These factors contributed to our decision to expand.' By optimising efficiency, making use of innovations and focusing on customer satisfaction, both nurseries can go ahead with their construction plans. We wish our Prominent growers, Van Adrichem Nurseries and Kwekerij Schenkeveld, much success with their expansions this year.

More information?

More information about these growers is available at www.vanadrichemkwekerijen.nl/sublimato and www.schenkeveldtomaten.nl. Prominent vine tomatoes are sold and marketed by DOOR Partners B.V., the sales subsidiary of Grower Cooperative DOOR. More information about the Prominent is available at www.prominent-tomatoes.nl.

Picture: Front view of the new Schenkeveld location.