Adrienne in the greenhouse.
The couple started very ambitiously with the cultivation of a broad and wide range of vegetables, sold in several supermarkets. "This proved more difficult than we thought. Logistics in particular became increasingly challenging. Today, we still grow a fairly broad range, but it’s more focused on the niche market, " says Adrienne. Her husband Aron is mainly engaged in the cultivation of flowers, which are sold through the auction, as well as radish. In addition to flowers and radish, the greenhouse (7,000 square meters) holds various vegetables such as broad beans, green beans, melons, cucumbers, tomatoes, leeks, lettuce, endive and cauliflower. But also fruit such as peaches, blackberries and different varieties of strawberries. The first vegetables are usually available from mid-May.
Hospitality
Most of the vegetables are sold directly to the hospitality and catering industry. The nursery has built up a nice clientele in this sector. Each week, a list with available products is circulated. The hospitality customers pick up their own products at the nursery. Adrienne says that restaurants can also indicate what they want. "We’ve been working with restaurant Pure Passie (Pure Passion) in 's Gravenzande for four years now, supplying various vegetables, fruits and edible flowers. Chef Leonard Elenbaas drops by every week and is very involved in production." Vers Kwekerij Westland also grows vegetables and edible flowers for restaurant Villa la Ruche in Voorburg. Aron and Adrienne plan to focus more on the hospitality industry in the coming years.
Specialties
The couple cultivates various products: products which they think may be of interest to restaurants, such as artichoke, fennel and herbs. "Edible flowers are really a trend," Adrienne explains. "We have more than 15 different types of edible flowers in many variations, such as Damask flowers, violets, roses and nasturtiums. It's a fun product. This also applies to other specialties such as forgotten vegetables and purple cauliflower. The colored vegetables like radishes, carrots and beets are also very popular." Last year, Aron and Adrienne began to grow herbs. Think of basil, parsley, celery, thyme, lemon balm, but also mint and stevia, which are increasingly popular.
Broad beans
Vers Kwekerij Westland is known in the region for its broad beans. This renders them claims to be the first in the Netherlands. Where the beans are normally only available in mid-June, Aron and Adrienne’s broad beans are often harvested from early May. "There are always a lot of interested people, but the hospitality sector is most keen to purchase. The timing allows us to go for premium prices.”
More information:
www.verskwekerijwestland.nl