Produce & Packaging is one of the few lettuce and herb suppliers, who also pack the product. "We supply our products especially in Belgium and we are also suppliers to Colruyt." This year our own harvest is later than normal because of the cold weather. Normally we harvest in the second week of April, but that will now be the first week of May," according to Danny. "We supply product all year round and import from Spain and Italy as well."
Spinach
"One product which had an enormous boost during the last few years is spinach. We started with this in 2006 and it is now one of the most important products. Spinach is more and more a part of the cooking program. Originally it was only cooked, but now it is even part of salads. Many applications are possible. Spinach is pre-packed and supplied day-fresh. The best part is that we control the entire chain from growth to supply. As a result we can be flexible to the demand of the customer and the products remain optimally fresh. Also, controls take place everywhere." In addition to spinach, the consumption of rucola is also growing. Nowadays, people are more concerned with taste and health."
New concept
"Recently we have also been busy with a new concept with parsley and that will be introduced in the middle of May. Parsley is almost bunched at various locations and then packed. Now we will no longer tie up the parsley, but supply it at a required length with the help of the new machine. This is also possible with more products, such as flat parsley, cherval and herbs in general. First of all the parsley is sorted on length and then washed and dried. After the drying the products are cooled again to 1 degree and with our new weighing system the weight is proportioned exactly.
"Last of all, there is the flowpack packing and if required a label is placed on the packing. Our products are completely traceable. At the end we know exactly from which sending a product comes and how much fall-out there was. This has all been stored in the system. It is a surplus value, that we have all information and also can supply the exact weight a client requires. The investment in a new machine does not come cheap, but finally the cost price was lower. The parsley was bundled first and after that flowpacked. Now there is a lot less handling: we eliminate the bundling. The machines comes from Marco Systems and we are very happy with them."
Danny expects the focus to remain on local sales in the future. "We want to be fully occupied here and also it is more difficult to export products with a shorter durability. We are, however, looking for suppliers abroad because the general demand increases. We are now looking further South for suppliers, for instance in Morocco."
For more information:
Danny Van Looveren
Produce & Packaging nv
44, Beersebaan
2310 Rijkevorsel
Tel: +32-33666790
Fax: +32-33666792
[email protected]
www.produce-packaging.be
Danny Van Looveren
Produce & Packaging nv
44, Beersebaan
2310 Rijkevorsel
Tel: +32-33666790
Fax: +32-33666792
[email protected]
www.produce-packaging.be
