The Dutch company Prime Champ is growing mushrooms, and bought in December 2011 a 9,680 square meter hall in the German industrial area Laichingen Alb. "Our customers want a local produce. Therefore we needed a place for a branch in Germany," says Rob Diets, an employee of Prime Champ. The appropriate business took the company in the industrial area intercommunal Laichingen Alb. Here there was a hall for sale, which Edeka previously used for cutting and packaging of meat. The hall is a couple of years old, but was still in good condition. Prime Champ bought the 9,680 square meter hall in December 2011 and Manager Geert Verdellen used it with his team for the cultivation of mushrooms.
In Laichingen the mushrooms are not only grown but also pre-packed and ready for delivery to the stores. "Since December we have been working hard," said branch manager Rolf Thierer. Together with his wife Jutta, he is responsible for the establishment in Laichingen. The mushroom cultivation is not easy.
Various processes must be done in order to be able to harvest a good product. According to Thierer the production begins with a good nutritional soil, because mushrooms need special compost to grow. It is based on straw, chicken manure, horse manure and gypsum. The correct ratio, aeration, pasteurization and conditioning ensure the right product.
Various processes must be done in order to be able to harvest a good product. According to Thierer the production begins with a good nutritional soil, because mushrooms need special compost to grow. It is based on straw, chicken manure, horse manure and gypsum. The correct ratio, aeration, pasteurization and conditioning ensure the right product.
Currently approximately 70 mushroom pickers make sure that every week between 50 and 60 tons of brown and white mushrooms are harvested. When everything is done, the capacity of the building will be at 120 tons per week.