Flower sprout, sprouting broccoli and red cabbage in Flanders

Grower Jose Dequidt from Pollinkhove, Belgium is always looking for new innovations. Three years ago he started cultivating 'flower sprout'. Along with the 'flower sprout' the West Flanders outdoor vegetable grower also introduced 'sprouting broccoli'. Red cabbage is also new this year. "In recent years the cabbage market has become more and more saturated, that's why innovation is so important," says Jose. "Growing these vegetables has become possible through the help of a Dutch seed company, where a team of specialists is always ready with useful information regarding these products."

Flower sprout is a cross between kale and Brussels sprouts, "They have been growing this in the Netherlands for a while now, but until last year I was the only one growing it in Belgium. We also have a producer now in the Brussels region. The difference is that we harvest everything by hand and the new producer uses a machine. It takes more time but we find that the product becomes less damaged in the process and is then beautifully packaged." Jose indicates that sprouting broccoli is not yet very well known to the public, "The sprouting broccoli plant has side shoots; these new sorts of products are not easily brought onto the market. The public has to become acquainted with the new products first, and that takes time."