Three weeks ago (week 9), the season in northwestern Germany began and the first snake cucumbers were launched on the market. Due to the many hours of sunshine in February, the first yields were very satisfactory, but then there was a small decline in production. Now everything begins again, says sales manager Andreas Brinker. “In two weeks we expect the first peppers, which is a new feature in the program this year. Currently we have 4 hectares of production area but this is a fairly low-light area, which is why pepper cultivation is difficult. But the 2017 test phase was satisfactory.”
Despite the lack of sunshine hours in the Papenburg area, the production of tasty tomatoes and cucumbers is no obstacle. Certainly regarding cucumbers, a substantial part of the supply of domestic snake cucumbers is produced in the greenhouses of Lower Saxony. Brinker: “We have about 100 hectares here in one location. This is unique in Germany. Even the mini cucumbers that we have been growing for three years, have had a very good impact throughout Germany. At the moment they do not have the same impact as regular cucumbers, but their impact is growing.”
Again, new varieties are already being thoroughly tested before actually going into production. The one variety of mini cucumber that is currently produced there has a weight of about 120 grams and should really be called 'midi cucumber'. The tested variety is no larger than your average middle finger. The acreage will be expanded step by step, in contrast to large new construction projects in the neighbouring Netherlands. Brinker: "About 5 hectares are already put aside, to be put into production next year. However, we also have to make things work financially and the current market is anything but underserved.”
Cucumber plant during its flowering
The stand of GBZ Papenburg at this year's Fruit Logistica in Berlin
Family farms
Gartenbauzentrale Papenburg is a centralized producer and marketing company with an acreage of about 100 hectares at the Papenburg site. The center only works with a total of 44 owner-managed family businesses that work on their own lands and process the products on site. Their products are marketed jointly under their own brand or under the label of the respective chain.
The stand of GBZ Papenburg at this year's Fruit Logistica in Berlin
Family farms
Gartenbauzentrale Papenburg is a centralized producer and marketing company with an acreage of about 100 hectares at the Papenburg site. The center only works with a total of 44 owner-managed family businesses that work on their own lands and process the products on site. Their products are marketed jointly under their own brand or under the label of the respective chain.
For more information:
Gartenbauzentrale eG
Schulze-Delitzsch-Str. 10
26871 Papenburg
T.: 04961 801 0
F.: 04961 801 909