NL: Strawberry growers The Greenery start new season

Located on the High Tech Campus is the Philips GrowWise Center where in 8 climatic chambers LED lighting is tested on different crops, including strawberries. The growers took a look in this research center and were well informed about the knowledge that is gathered to apply LED lighting for the cultivation of strawberries.

After this inspiring visit, the meeting was held at the High Tech campus. Ad Boeren, chairman of the working group Strawberries, opened the meeting with a brief review of 2017 and, among others, recalled the opening of the new Soft Fruit Distribution Center in Breda. Thereafter product manager Rob van der Weele gave an explanation about the acreage developments.

During the meeting, the state of affairs in the rollout of PlanetProof (previously known as Milieukeur) was also discussed. The attending growers were updated about the new schedule and the most important changes.

Sjraar Hulsman, Business Unit manager Soft Fruit, discussed the commercial results of 2017. The Greenery maintains its good position in Dutch, German and British retail. In addition, the new quality brand Sweet and Sunny provides new sales opportunities. He presented the audience with a number of trends and challenges that strawberry cultivation will face in 2018. He also expressed his appreciation for the good cooperation with the affiliated growers in order to serve the market as well as possible.

Klaas de Jager, agronomist of soft fruit at The Greenery, ended the meeting by showing a number of cultivation concepts with new varieties. With the varieties programs, The Greenery offers an important contribution to innovation in strawberry cultivation.