Variety is the trump card at the Müller organic farm in Steinmaur, Canton of Zurich. On 60 hectares of open land and 2.5 hectares of greenhouses, the Müllers grow around 40 different vegetables and herbs. Sales are just as diversified - from farm stores to online retailers. In addition to diversity, careful use of resources is a top priority at Müllers, as can be seen in the greenhouse. The first tomatoes will soon be ready for harvesting at the end of April. As prescribed in organic farming, the tomatoes grow in the soil and not hors-sol. Müller nevertheless refrains from soil disinfection by steaming. "Steaming also kills the soil organisms that ensure healthy soils," Samuel Müller (r) told lid.ch.
Insight into the cucumber greenhouse / Image: Müller Steinmaur
His greenhouse lettuce is currently difficult to sell due to imports and a lack of outdoor produce. Because the Swiss supply from the greenhouse is rather small and at the same time the open-air produce is not yet ready for harvesting due to the cool weather, retailers prefer to rely on imported produce instead of Zurich lettuce. The farm manager hopes that he will still be able to sell the greenhouse lettuce. Anything else would be 'really bad'. Müller pleads for more tolerance with regard to optical standards. For example, a small case of thrips infestation, insects around 1mm in size, can mean that leeks can no longer be delivered. "It would be perfect in terms of quality, but visually it doesn't meet the standards. There needs to be a healthy tolerance so that growers are not forced to resort to pesticides."
More information:
Samuel Müller
BioLand Agrarprodukte AG
Hauptstrasse 56
CH - 8162 Steinmaur
Zentrale 044 853 23 00
https://www.mueller-steinmaur.ch/