Netherlands: 16 hectare plum tomato grower opts for Philips LED interlighting modules

Kwekerij Wim Peters in Someren, The Netherlands is the first grower of plum tomatoes that has opted for Philips LED lighting. The nursery specializes in growing Roma Vine plum tomatoes and Tasty Tom cocktail tomatoes. The area under cultivation is currently some 16 hectares, divided between Kwekerij Wim Peters BV and Vivaio Peters BV. Partly thanks to the new installation, owner Wim Peters can now produce top-quality tomatoes all year round. The produce is marketed through ZON fruit & vegetables. “The LED lighting gives us both flexibility and consistent quality, which are particularly important in the winter months.”

Kwekerij Peters has specialized in growing plum tomatoes for the past ten years. It is a real family business. Owner Wim Peters is the third generation to run it. Family businesses often have strong traditions, but Peters is also bearing in mind the possibilities and opportunities offered by today’s market. “Until now it was impossible to supply our own plum tomatoes in Winter. This meant that tomatoes had to be imported from Spain. Unfortunately these tomatoes are of slightly lower quality and this fall-off in supply threatened the continuity of our sales.”

Perfect combination

With Philips’ LED solution the need to import during the Winter months will soon be a thing of the past. “We can control growth perfectly throughout the year by means of the hybrid lighting system.” This is a combination of HID lighting, Hortilux Schréder B.V. luminaires fitted with Philips GreenPower 600W lamps, and Philips GreenPower LED interlighting. The HID lighting supplies heat and light and the LED modules provide the tomatoes with precisely controlled and highly efficient interlighting. “A perfect combination for creating the best possible conditions for the plants with maximum control,” says Wim Peters.

Home cooking

In collaboration with ZON fruit & vegetables, Peters is focusing on the market for plum tomatoes. Together they have developed the concept they call ‘Home Cooking with Roma tomatoes’. These are packets of plum tomatoes that come with a recipe for tomato soup, spaghetti sauce or lasagna. So a healthy meal can be cooked quickly and easily. This is because, thanks to their specific quality, plum tomatoes are very well suited for use in hot dishes. But due to the fall-off in quality in Winter it was proving difficult to guarantee retail shelf space. ZON hopes that thanks to the quality improvement and continuity provided by the LEDs it will be possible to ensure a place on the shelves all year round.

Financing

Here too, Peters has demonstrated that flexibility can result in successful collaboration. Much of the new installation is being financed by Philips Lighting Capital and Rabobank. A bespoke loan for the LED system was arranged with Philips Lighting Capital. The investment in the HID installation was made in conjunction with Rabobank, the company bank.

First for plum tomatoes

The LED interlighting modules will be installed at Kwekerij Peters by Philips LED Horti Partner BE de Lier in October. The first plum tomatoes are expected to be harvested starting in January. Kwekerij Wim Peters will therefore have a first in plum tomatoes.

For more information:
Philips Horticultural Lighting, the Netherlands
Marjan Welvaarts, Global Marcom Manager Horticulture
Tel.: +31 (0)40 275 64 99
E-mail: marjan.welvaarts@philips.com
www.philips.com/horti

http://www.kwekerijpeters.nl/