Vroegop-Windig has partnered with Tuinderij de Groenteboer and Zorgtuinderij de Kweektuin to grow mostly organic historical vegetable varieties on a small scale under the name ‘De Oertuin’ [the prehistorical garden].
This joint initiative was started to conserve the cultural heritage that these historical vegetable varieties represent. The choice of historical crops is largely based on taste. Modern cultivation usually revolves around yield and ease of growing. Bitter and sharp tastes are often completely lost in cultivation. Growing old varieties yields less but tastes better. Old crops often have a natural resistance to disease because no spraying liquids were used in the past.
Thursday, March 31st saw the first harvest of the 'French Breakfast' and ‘Zeeuws Zeempje’ radish varieties. They were followed by field radishes 'Roodkopje' and ‘Rammenas (Ostergruss) Rosa’.
De Oertuin offers different types of special historical vegetables with a unique story and the taste that nature intended year-round. The harvest is better distributed but limited because of the small-scale cultivation, and the shape is not as uniform as in large-scale modern cultivation. Harvesting and packaging are done manually, with the uniqueness and exclusivity of the product continuously taken into account.
De Oertuin befits the values and objectives of the three partners. Vroegop-Windig has a passion for fresh produce and offers the widest possible range to its customers. Kroon Biologisch Verswaren is part of Vroegop-Windig and its sales channel to the health food market. Zorgtuinderij De Kweektuin offers independently living, vulnerable citizens meaningful daytime activities in a green and natural environment. Tuinderij de Groenteboer organically grows vegetables, fruit and flowers on a small scale and prefers local and regional sales. An ideal combination of three companies that play on each other’s, as well as nature’s, strengths.
For more information: www.vroegop.nl