Anyone driving past the greenhouses of Looye Kwekers in Burgerveen is not just looking at a glass greenhouse, but an advanced piece of Dutch greenhouse technology. Havecon (formerly Green Tex) and the tomato grower have been building the future of tomatoes together since 2006. Annelies Looije says: 'We have now realised three greenhouses together. And each time it goes smoothly, transparently and professionally. We know: if we work with Havecon, it gets done.'
The cooperation is not accidental. Looye is known for its progressive approach and in this they found a like-minded partner in the greenhouse builder Havecon. 'We believe in the power of semi-closed greenhouses. Not everyone dares to take that approach and invest, but we do. Havecon understands that and builds exactly what we need. They are flexible, switch quickly and think along proactively down to the last detail.'
A brand with taste
Looye Kwekers is a family business with a rich history. Next year, the company celebrates its 80th anniversary. Where it once started with Annelies' grandfather, the family business has now been taken over by three sisters: Annelies (operations and cultivation), Margriet (marketing and sales) and their youngest sister Jacqueline (in charge of the sister company in Spain). Looye is known for its Looye Honey tomatoes, Looye JOYN tomatoes and Looye To Go tomatoes which are loved by consumers and chefs alike. The grower supplies the biggest Dutch supermarkets like AH, Jumbo, Plus, Spar and various processors, among others. 'Tomatoes are popular vegetables and due to the increasing demand for food worldwide, we will only grow more tomatoes in the future. People eat them on their own, but also in all kinds of dishes,' says Annelies. 'We are strongly committed to our brand name, invest heavily in marketing and do taste tests every week. Because taste largely determines the quality of our tomatoes.'
Quality starts in the greenhouse
Looye's tomatoes grow on 33 hectares in its own greenhouse in Naaldwijk and Burgerveen, and 35 hectares at contract growers. In total, the company supplies 15 million kilos of tomatoes every year.
© Looye Kwekers
A major foundation for that amount growth lies at their largest production site in Burgerveen. There are three ultramodern greenhouses, built together with Havecon. The latest is a semi-closed greenhouse with an innovative climate corridor in which air is supplied from outside and recirculated inside via large ventilation hoses. In our second greenhouse, which is also a semi-closed greenhouse, the temperature at the head was rising too much', says Annelies. 'With smart adjustments, such as a screen especially for summer, we managed to get it under control. We now achieve a higher yield and save on energy thanks to new techniques.'
Growth with vision
Besides sustainable heating solutions and smart lighting strategies, Looye is thinking about expansion. 'We can expand in time, but we are also realistic. Energy, labour and, for instance, fertilisers are becoming increasingly expensive. So becoming more sustainable is a necessity, not a choice,' says Annelies. The cultivation itself is also intensive: young plants of 60 cm grow into plants of 2.5 metres in 8 to 9 weeks. After that, they are harvested for 40 weeks. 'That requires attention, craftsmanship and technology. Fortunately, we have that combination in-house and with partners like Havecon we are able to work on our growth every day.'
For more information:
Looye Kwekers Holding B.V.
10 Vlietboomgaard
2672 JA, Naaldwijk, NL
Tel.: +31 (0) 174 520 060
[email protected]
www.looye.com