"My grandfather started with 4,000 m² of greenhouses in Poesele. He cultivated lettuce in the winter and tomatoes in the summer. Gradually the company expanded to 3 hectares in 2001," mentions Tom Vlaemynck from Tomato Masters. The company added 5.7 hectares last year at the request of Carrefour.
"In 2012 I joined the company, with my father and two uncles, we built a new company in Deinze with 10.7 hectares," continues Tom. "A greenhouse of 4.5 hectares and a greenhouse of 6.2 hectares. The smallest greenhouse was then already equipped with diffuse glass. We mainly grow vine tomatoes, most of those for Carrefour. We are their only supplier of trusses under the kkc label, the other part is sold via the Tomeco producer organization that sorts and packs everything at one location."
Soon it was decided to build a second phase of 5.6 hectares. "The need to supply all year round became ever higher, so we fitted this greenhouse with lighting. For the lighting we opted for full LED (top lighting). The power consumption is considerably lower and the plants react positively to the light.
"To compensate for the heat loss compared to the SON-T lamps, we have installed a double screen. At the top is the blackout screen and below is the energy screen. There is also an extra heating pipe in between the heads of the plants..
"We knew in advance that the planning would be tight and all parties have made the maximum possible effort in order to get everything ready on time. That was not so easy due to the extreme weather that we had."
"On 7 July we started with the substructure and on 5 November we planted. In order to get ready in that short period, we have, in consultation with the contractors, also done a lot of work ourselves in the greenhouse.
"There was a CHP of 7.5 MW and there we have added one of 5 MW. The warehouse is also going to be expanded. Three new and fully automatic weighing lines will be installed there, allowing us to finish orders very rapidly.
"In addition, we cooperate intensively with our neighbor, Aqua4C, who grow Omega bass. This fish gets heat, electricity and fresh rainwater from us. We get the effluents in return that we use as food for the tomatoes.
"The circle is therefore completely closed. With the new LED greenhouse, we can provide our customers all year round with tasty tomatoes that are cultivated with attention for the environment. There is still a plot of 5 hectares waiting", Tom concludes, so it could just be possible that Havecon may have to travel to Deinze again for a new construction project.
This article comes from the HaveContact 2019, which will be delivered again this weekend, will be online soon and can be found on the HortiContact at Havecon's stand, 109.
For more information:
Havecon Kassenbouw B.V.
Marconistraat 32
2665 JE Bleiswijk
Netherlands
T: +31(0)10 266 32 70
F: +31(0)10 266 32 71
info@havecon.com
www.havecon.com
Tomato Masters
T. +32 (0) 93357701
M. +32 (0) 494 84 09 55
Stokstormestraat 14 A
9800 Deinze
Belgium
info@tomatomasters.be
www.tomatomasters.be