If you think that the Dutch horticulture industry is a bit at standstill in terms of greenhouse expansion, you might be wrong. Last month, strawberry grower Royal Berry bought 14 hectares of land in the Dutch greenhouse area Bergerden to prepare for the future.
In 2010, Royal Berry took over a greenhouse of 6.5 hectares from a former tomato grower in Bergerden. Since then, the grower operates a total of 11.5 hectares of greenhouses. "It goes well with the company and that is why we want to expand in the future. With this acquisition, we are prepared to do so. In Bergerden there is plenty of space to undertake, accessibility is good and appropriate facilities are available," explains Jan van Genderen of Royal Berry.
In Bergerden they are happy with the purchase. The area has gone through difficult times, but has repositioned in recent years. "We are pleased that there is a positive movement in the market after years of standstill," says Theo Peren, director of area in Bergerden. "Other entrepreneurs also think about expanding. We nurture and support this as much as possible. Bergerden is financially still in dire straits. We are looking for a solution to bring the ground exploitation back to health."