On Friday June 2017 the first brick was laid for the construction of the first greenhouse complex in the greenhouse zone of Arques in northern France. The project 'Les Serres des Hauts de France' of the West Flemish tomato growers Vandevelde will go into production next spring. The French tomatoes will be marketed through the REO Veiling under the label 'Les Nouveaux Producteurs'. This new expansion of the French product supply within both the country borders of this label and the REO Veiling strengthens the position of the REO Veiling on the French sales market.
SARL
Giving greenhouse cultivation enough space isn't easy. A sustainable clustering of greenhouse cultivation companies in a suitable industrial estate offers a solution. This coherent solution doesn't just mean efficient space manager or landscape integration. It also offers future perspectives and legal certainty to growers who enter into the project. This is why there are greenhouse zones developing both at home and abroad. Including in northern France. There, an area of 90 ha has been specified for the concentration of greenhouse cultivation. The greenhouse zone is in Arques at Saint-Omer.
The construction of the first greenhouse complex in the greenhouse cultivation zone of Arques is now underway. The first brick was laid on Friday 9 June 2017. The greenhouse complex with a production surface of 9 ha is a realisation by 'Les Serres des Hauts de France' (SARL) with business executives Kévin and Jonas Vandevelde. The family Vandevelde from Zedelgem are west Flemish tomato growers who have been selling their produce through the REO Veiling since the beginning.
"6,000 tonnes of tomatoes will soon be grown on an annual basis at our location in Arques. The construction of the greenhouse complex will take another few months. The tomatoes will be planted at the end of this year. The harvest of the tomatoes from cultivation under light will get going next spring. We will also be selling our French product through the REO Veiling," explain the brothers Kévin and Jonas Vandevelde.
This means that REO Veiling will be present on the market with tomatoes grown in northern France next year from March to December. The REO Veiling offers its French tomatoes under the label 'Les Nouveaux Producteurs'. After chicory, leek, pot-au-feu, cauliflower, sprouts and courgette, tomato is the seventh French product that the REO Veiling will commercialise under this label.
Second home market
The development of the greenhouse cultivation area by the local government in Arques is supported and carried by the REO Veiling in Roeselare (West-Fladers) just 75 km distance from the northern French municipality. After all, France has become the second home market of the REO Veiling. The growing population and the decline of the domestic horticultural area in France offers opportunities for the REO Veiling. In absolute figures the REO Veiling noted a rise in turnover of 35% on the French fresh market. Almost half of the exported fruit and vegetables from the REO Veiling go to France. This is a fifth of all fresh fruit and vegetables sold on the REO Veiling.
This means that REO Veiling will be present on the market with tomatoes grown in northern France next year from March to December. The REO Veiling offers its French tomatoes under the label 'Les Nouveaux Producteurs'. After chicory, leek, pot-au-feu, cauliflower, sprouts and courgette, tomato is the seventh French product that the REO Veiling will commercialise under this label.
Second home market
The development of the greenhouse cultivation area by the local government in Arques is supported and carried by the REO Veiling in Roeselare (West-Fladers) just 75 km distance from the northern French municipality. After all, France has become the second home market of the REO Veiling. The growing population and the decline of the domestic horticultural area in France offers opportunities for the REO Veiling. In absolute figures the REO Veiling noted a rise in turnover of 35% on the French fresh market. Almost half of the exported fruit and vegetables from the REO Veiling go to France. This is a fifth of all fresh fruit and vegetables sold on the REO Veiling.
"The project 'Les Serres des Hauts de France' ensures that the Reo Veiling will have a unique volume of French vegetables as of next year as a motor to sell its products on the French market more strongly than ever. Fruit vegetables are to further expand the assortment of French open ground vegetables that the REO Veiling already has. Commercially, the French fruit vegetables will further strengthen our power on our second home market," concludes Paul Demytteneare, general director of the REO Veiling.
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