Left: the Canadian greenhouse sporting the mold-encased cucumbers. Right: Vegetable of the Month
Three years ago Cor Pellikaan started the production of fruit molds; allowing the fruit to be formed during cultivation. They are sold under the name Qutefruit, as is the fruit. A mold is placed around a small cucumber and harvested after maturation. "The product already existed, but it was very labour intensive and costly. I started thinking about a technically feasible production line and eventually developed a machine that gets the hearts from the mold," he says.
One of his first clients was Jeroen Hartman. Hartman is growing the cucumbers for the first time, and with success: the crops are currently on supermarket shelves and promoted as Vegetable of the Month. According to Hartman, the cultivation of these particular cucumbers is something of a challenge. “It’s more work, obviously, because making it grow in a certain shape takes dedication and careful guidance."
Does it pay off? As of now, the cucumbers are on the shelves for 1.99 per 250 grams. Whether they continue at this price after February, is not yet clear. "We’re catering to the Valentine’s Day season right now, but after that, who knows?”
Does it pay off? As of now, the cucumbers are on the shelves for 1.99 per 250 grams. Whether they continue at this price after February, is not yet clear. "We’re catering to the Valentine’s Day season right now, but after that, who knows?”
The fruit is produced in the Netherlands. "The intention is to market them all over the world." says Pellikaan. In Canada, the are using his molds as well. "Valentine's Day is a big thing there, but the product is selling all through the year. It is an accepted product for children, like the snack cucumber. In two weeks we’ll roll out the star shapes, but we also look at other fruits and shapes as there are so many possibilities! These we are now testing."
For more information:
Cor Pellikaan