In the historic town of Zierikzee, in the heart of the Dutch Delta region, South West Growers is thriving under exceptional climatic conditions. But even with sunshine served daily, the work of a tomato grower is anything but predictable.
“We grow on an island in the Netherlands,” explains Marc Groenewegen, Co-Owner of South West Growers, “and the climate here is wonderful. It gives us a great starting point. But nature always finds ways to challenge us.”
Meeting market demands
With a portfolio that spans cherry tomatoes to beefsteak varieties, the grower supplies a range of segments, especially supermarkets, whose specifications are becoming increasingly precise. “Every variety has its own approach. That’s what makes it so challenging and so interesting. You’re always trying to take the best out of each plant.”
For beefsteak tomatoes, market demands dictate a very specific target: fruit diameter around 140 mm and individual fruit weights below 375 grams. “If they grow above that, you either need to increase the planting density or make adjustments elsewhere,” he explains. “On the other hand, cherry tomatoes must stay small, but not too light. It’s a balancing act, and when you get it wrong, it can give you a headache.”
Challenges despite the sunshine
Despite the ongoing sunny weather in the Netherlands — a rare consistency for this region — Marc cautions against assuming conditions are optimal. “We are producing too few fruits per plant per square metre, considering the light we receive,” he notes. “The flowering on the last fruit of the truss is slower, bumblebee visits are down, and the fruits are getting slightly less shiny.”
The solution? Strategy and micro-adjustments. “Night temperatures need to be higher to convert that plant energy into fruit speed,” he says. “But there’s a limit to what we can do. Our pipe maximum is 50 degrees, so we can’t stoke it endlessly. Thankfully, upcoming warmer nights will help.”
Technological tools and techniques
Greenhouse management at South West Growers is a balance between light, moisture, airflow, CO2, and temperature. “We can give more light, we can soak them, or we can dry them,” Groenewegen says. “Using two screens helps simulate winter if we need to speed things up. Air drying is also part of our toolkit. Everything we do aims to guarantee the same high quality throughout the year.”
This stability is important, particularly in the face of shifting seasonal dynamics. “Our growing time from fruit set to harvest is decreasing — that’s good for harvesting,” he explains. “It improves picking performance and fruit quality, as the tomatoes are less likely to get damaged by rubbing against old fertiliser residue remaining on the cultivation gutters.”
The harvesting challenge
Still, perfection is elusive. “Some trusses that weren’t pruned properly will hang around another week before the last fruit colours up. That turns harvesting into an Olympic sport,” he jokes.
Even with experience and smart greenhouse strategies, he remains humble in the face of nature’s unpredictability. “The next challenge is on the way,” he says. “After these warm nights, the forecast is colder and with much less light. The real task will be maintaining all the fruits we’ve set in the last few weeks.”
Learning and adapting
For growers like him, contentment doesn’t mean complacency. “Perhaps the somewhat lower production this week isn’t so bad,” he reflects. “We must learn to be content — but always with the critical grower’s eye.”
That critical eye, sharpened by local conditions and international insights, is part of what keeps South West Growers competitive. “I’ve got contacts in New Zealand and Australia,” Marc says. “I learn a lot from how they approach things, and that keeps me sharp here, too, trying to replicate optimal growing conditions. You can never stop looking closely,” he says. “That’s what growing is — learning every day.”
For more information:
South West Growers
Marc Groenewegen, Co-Owner
[email protected]
nl.linkedin.com
southwestgrowers.nl
