There are continuously construction works going on in horticulture area Californië in the Netherlands. The building activities at the Thwan van Gennip company on lot 1 were barely completed in 2018 when new construction activities were started again. This time in the northern part of horticulture area Californië. There, Sweet Lions built 5 hectares for the cultivation of cherry tomatoes.
At the beginning of 2018, a plot became available on the Aartserfweg that was acquired by Californië BV for the extension of Sweet Lions. Sweet Lions now has, including the 5 hectares new construction, 13 hectares available.
In mid-2018, the ambitious planning schedule was put on paper. And that was very tight. The most ideal time to plant the tomato plants in the greenhouse is early December. But to prepare the land for construction, a farm and two stables had to be demolished. This included the removal of asbestos roofs that were on the barns. And ditches and a pond had to be filled up. All that had to be done before the construction of the greenhouses could even be started.
Despite setbacks, including asbestos contamination in the ground and a polluted ditch, the plot was ready on time for construction. Subsequently, the greenhouse was completed and ready for the plants in a very short time frame.
Success
At the end of November Gebroeders Van Leeuwen (the Van Leeuwen brothers) walked through the new greenhouse. In the existing greenhouses planting is underway. In the new greenhouse many people are at work to hang and adjust the last cultivation gutters. "We made it", Jordan van Leeuwen sighs. "Around the beginning of December we will have the first plants in the new building."
Thomas adds: "It was a huge job. But it looks like we are going to realize our schedule. And we are very happy with that."
The expansion offers the Van Leeuwen brothers the opportunity to become, with more volume, a clear party in the sales markets. "In addition, this expansion of the production site is important for us in order to make more optimal use of the geothermal heat source."
Source: Californië