Pepper grower 4Evergreen is expanding with no less than eighteen hectares in Westdorpe. Currently, the leveling is being done. The nursery will be planting in the new greenhouse in November.
Not only the Dutch horticulture in general, but especially the Dutch area Westdorpe is booming. Building is being done by VGT and by pepper nursery 4Evergreen. Three years ago the Grootscholte brothers took over a tomato nursery in Smidsschorrepolder, located on a plot of 26 hectares. In the subsequent year they bought the last available 42 hectares in this polder. With the new construction (phase 2) of 18 hectares the establishment will grow to 28 hectares of greenhouses. In total, the expansion will bring the family business close to 80 hectares of greenhouses spread over six locations. The pepper nursery is run by three brothers: Jim, Robert and Dennis Grootscholte.
The Smiddschorrepolder will soon look very different.
Market possibilities
The 18 hectare expansion is a big one in the Dutch pepper sector. Is there a gap in the market? Robert Grootscholte: "If you look at the last few years you will see that the Dutch block pepper acreage has been decreasing between 2008 and 2015 with an average of 45 hectares per year. In addition, in recent years growers have been switching to other pepper breeds such as pointed peppers, or to other crops." But it’s not just about the acreage, there also needs to be renewal in the sector. "There needs to be innovation in pepper cultivation. There’s hardly been any in the last few years." The greenhouse is being built by the BOM Group and will be equipped with the latest technologies, including a double screen installation with the slip-in system by Peter Dekker Installaties.
Residual heat
Westdorpe uses residual heat and CO2 from the Yara fertilizer plant. After a strong start the area had a difficult period, driven by the crisis. In recent years there has been significant upturn. First the Van Adrichem brothers set up shop here. Then the Belgium company VGT bought 30 hectares and finally 4Evergreen acquired the remaining hectares in the Smitsschorrepolder. According to the developers a couple of growers are also showing interest for the last hectares in the Autrichepolder.
