It's the biggest organic greenhouse of Southern Germany and the first crop started eighth months ago. So far the season is going really well: with a harvest of 385 ton organic tomatoes, 85 ton organic cucumbers and a million organic cucumbers up until July, cooperation Reichenau-Gemüse, grower Benjamin Wagner as well as retailer Rewe are pleased. The three form a partnership.
Christian Müller, interim CEO with Reichenau during the Fruit Logistica
Growing five vegetables
The produce being grown in Mühlingen is exclusively sold to Rewe under a private, organic brand. According to Berng Grassel, Category Manager Rewe Südwest, the response is very good.
"With the project Gärtnersiedlung Mühlingen we unite our customers' demand to local and organic grown produce", he explains. Rewe is one of the initiators of the company and every year the three partners talk about the demand, the wanted products and the amount being grown.
New greenhouse
The greenhouse is located on a 6.5 ha site in Mühlingen. Benjamin Wagner invested about ten million euros in the settlement and grows according to the rules of organic grower organisation Naturland. Apart from the greenhouse, a new sorting location (1,700 m2) and accommodation for 40 seasonal workers are established, adding up to 23,000 m2.
With four different tomatoes, red and yellow peppers and cucumbers Benjamin currently grows in four different climatic zones. All the plants are grown within soil, according to the strict rules of the Naturland organic cooperation. Because crop rotation is important to the soil and the organic growth, in winter lettuce and radish is grown.
Heat and water
Heat is supplied by a nearby biogas installation. A 3000 m3 thermal storage tank is installed near the glasshouse, as well as a 12,000 m3 water basin. Horse manure and apple pomace are fermented, the gas is supplied as waste heat through a 700-meter long district heating pipe and collected in a heat storage tank. The required irrigation water is essentially recovered (80%) via the roof surface of the greenhouse.
"We use organic fertilizers and IPM, try to use as many useful insects as necessary", Benjamin adds.
Just-in-time sales
Reichenau-Gemüse takes care of the supply chain: both logistics and the sales of the vegetables. "This way the grower can focus on it's primary business: growing," says Johannes Bliestle, CEO of the cooperation.
In the afternoon the Reichenau-Gemüse trucks pick up the veggies that were harvested in the morning and sorted in the afternoon. They go directly to the Rewe Südwest. thus making it possible to have 48 hours fresh vegetables in the supermarket.
For more information:
Reichenau-Gemüse eG
Marktstraße 1
78479 Insel Reichenau
T +49 (0) 7534 9200-0
F +49 (0) 7534 9200-20
E-mail: info@reichenaugemuese.de
Internet: www.reichenaugemuese.de