In May 2025, soft fruit grower Van As from Tricht (NL) started using a new Rovero polytunnel for strawberry cultivation. Grower Jannis van As was looking for a custom solution and found it with Rovero. "They developed an excellent all-in-one solution: a robust tunnel greenhouse with diffuse film with double continuous ridge ventilation" he says. "With this addition, we can spread out the harvest even better and grow more top-quality fruit."
Soft fruit farm Van As in Tricht was founded in 1988 by Marco and Louwra van As – van Aalsburg. Initially, the couple grew strawberries in open fields. The introduction of polytunnels in 1992 and outdoor table-top systems three years later marked a shift toward extending the harvest season, improving yield and quality, and reducing labor intensity. Another upgrade followed in 2002 with the construction of a heated glass greenhouse. Over the years, strawberries were joined by raspberries and red currants.
Wider harvest spread
Jannis, their son, joined the family business in 2019, bringing with him knowledge and work experience gained elsewhere, which helped continue the company's growth and professionalization. The most recent development took place in 2025, when the soft fruit growers built a 2,500 m² Rovero arched greenhouse themselves, fully equipped for growing strawberries in hanging gutters. This greenhouse replaced part of the outdoor cultivation area, so the company's 1-hectare strawberry operation is now spread across 5,000 m² of glass greenhouse (planted mid-March), 2,500 m² of polytunnel (planted from April 1), and 2,500 m² of outdoor fields (planted around June 1). The 4 hectares of raspberries and 3 hectares of red currants are all under transparent rain covers, providing good protection from hail and rain.
© Rovero
Self-built
"There are several suppliers of greenhouses and growing systems," explains the young grower about his choice. "The greenhouse has a sturdy frame that easily supports the weight of hanging gutters. Other advantages include the larger greenhouse volume, thanks to the raised sidewalls and gutter height (2 meters), and strong cooling capacity due to roof sprinklers and the double continuous ridge ventilation."
Construction began on January 6, with Rovero installing the foundation. Guided by the supplier, Van As and his team built the structure themselves. Installation of the Meteor Systems growing gutters and the Growtec irrigation system (including drainage collection and storage) was carried out by the specialists from those companies.
Good climate, high cooling capacity
The plants have been in the greenhouse since mid-May and are thriving, Van As reported in July. "It's a great greenhouse for growing strawberries. For a polytunnel, it offers a nice, stable climate and can be cooled well during hot periods. I'm also happy with the integrated irrigation system and the free space under the gutters, which makes for very efficient working."
They deliberately chose the diffuse Solero EVO film. Diffuse light causes less stress to the plants than direct sunlight and penetrates deeper into the crop, resulting in higher overall photosynthesis levels. "Compared to the outdoor cultivation we previously had here, this allows us to make significant gains in both productivity and fruit quality," he expects.
Trial with Vento Film
In the raspberry cultivation, Van As is running a trial with the unique self-ventilating Vento film that Rovero recently introduced. Trials in Mexico and Spain have already shown impressive results. "But each country and region is different, so I want to test it here first to see if it works for us too. We've never lost by continuing to learn and staying open to change, so we'll keep doing that."
Doing things themselves
The family business is used to being self-reliant and is anything but afraid of innovation. A large portion of the fruit harvested in spring and summer is sold directly to consumers via a vending machine and roadside stand. In the adjacent pick-your-own garden filled with summer flowers — maintained by Jannis' wife Marit — visitors can pick and create their own bouquets.
Doubling in five years
What does the future hold for this versatile family business on the edge of the Betuwe? Jannis: "Definitely growth. We hope to double our cultivation area to around 16 hectares within five years. Part of that will definitely be under cover. Whether it'll be glass or film, I can't say yet. Modern polytunnels and advanced films like those from Rovero already offer impressive capabilities, and with ongoing innovations, the possibilities continue to grow. We'll see where it takes us."
For more information:
Rovero
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www.rovero.com
