Atlantic Growers Portugal chosen as the best quality supplier to M&S

The company Atlantic Growers in Odemira Portugal has been active since 2001. The Harvest House growers Ferry Enthoven, Wim and Martien Zuidgeest grow in the Dutch style in a glass greenhouse on the Atlantic coast on an area of 12.5 hectares. Ferry has been living in Portugal for 17 years and heads the growing side of the business. Wim and Martien run a nursery of 11 hectares in the Netherlands to meet year-round demand from customers.

"We have the perfect climate to start growing at any time of the year," says Wim. The heated cultivation with the use of CHP is unique by Portuguese standards. "We grow in Portugal with biological crop protection and crops meet all food safety requirements, including the LEAF and Field to Fork certificates. All this gives the possibility to grow a qualitatively excellent product.The Atlantic Growers project is unique in Portugal and provides permanent employment to many people in the region."

Atlantic Growers grew only bell peppers up to 2008 and then later year around the sweet snack peppers Vitapep. The Vitapep is the sweetest snack pepper with a brix of 10-11. For several years now the company has also been growing Piccolo tomatoes via Wight Salads for the UK market. The Portuguese Piccolo tomatoes meet a demand on the UK market, this was demonstrated by the fact that the growers received a prize from Marks & Spencer at Fruit Logistica in Berlin for the quality of the tomatoes. At the meeting most global suppliers of M&S were present.

“Atlantic Growers consistently deliver great tasting produce of the highest quality so we would like to congratulate them on their well-deserved award," says Charlotte Curtis of M&S Produce.

For more information:

Wim Zuidgeest
Atlantic Growers
Apartado 3733 Malavado
wim@vitapep.nl