For 25 years, together with his brother, Izaak van der Lelij ran a greenhouse business in Den Hoorn, growing block peppers and, in the last five years, pointed peppers. When the neighbor took over the business, Izaak decided on a new path: he became a glasshouse vegetable advisor at Delphy.
At first glance, it seems like quite a switch, from running your own company to working for someone else. "It's not so different," Izaak says. "At Delphy you more or less have 'your own business', with your own clients that you're responsible for. You're given a lot of freedom in that. And I really enjoy working with colleagues who speak the same language, who you can spar with and learn from. Plus, it's fun to be challenged again with new courses and training."
Izaak now lives with his family in The Hague, where he's building up a client base. With ongoing consolidation, the pool of growers is becoming smaller. "But I still really enjoy the work," he says. "I talk a lot with colleagues – that's how I still see them – and I act as a sparring partner, helping them think through what's best for the crop. In a way, we're holding up a mirror to each other."
© Delphy
Variety selection
Right now, the main discussions are about variety choices for next year, Izaak explains. "It's a kind of decision stress: which variety should we choose, which growing medium – do we continue with rockwool, or switch to coco? Do we use an energy screen this winter or not? When do we start sowing, and what exactly are we going to sow? The combination of variety and medium influences how the crop grows, whether it leans more generative or vegetative. That's where I try to contribute my thinking."
Izaak enjoys approaching things from the other side now, offering advice in a sector that is undergoing rapid changes, especially with the energy transition. "There's a lot going on in that area. And I really like being part of the conversation."
For more information:
Izaak van der Lelij
Delphy
+31 6 17 90 64 86
[email protected]
https://delphy.nl
