Fifteen Sicilian tomato growers connected to exporter Schego are slowly starting to grow tomatoes in the Dutch way using a lot of technology. According to René Noordam the quality is improving sufficiently not to be restricted to selling on only on the Polish. The company now looks towards Germany and Scandinavia. "In Norway they want to pay more for taste."
“In Sicily it is the custom to start to harvest round 10 to 11 o'clock. I told them to start early in the morning or even during the night. Then they are finished by 10 o'clock before the heat comes into the glasshouse. Then there are less problems with dry bunches and the tomatoes are more durable," Noordam tells. Schego supplies the products from eighteen Italian growers (total combined area
58 HA) to the five largest Polish supermarkets. "They will accept a dry bunch, but Schego never wanted to export to Finland and Norway before," Noordam explains. Since the quality of the products has improved they are looking at the Scandinavian sales market. "We harvest somewhat early when the colour is a little lighter lighter. We always had the problem that the product was too warm when shipped. This we now prevent."
Noordam has worked with the Polish company for three months. The interest of the Italian growers in the Dutch cultivation techniques was a surprise. "When they heard I was Dutch with a reasonable experience they came with questions and were open to advice. It is striking for them as well that the Dutch product looks good." Noordam talked to the growers and slowly sees changes. "They are going to use Dutch techniques. First they irrigated the plants when they thought they were thirsty. Now five of our growers have changed to an installation with which they can and mix fertilizer as well." The growers of Schego are not exclusively connected to the exporter and also supply the local market." We do not buy on the open market, but they are not growers of whom we pay and buy the entire cultivation. They are connected to us."
As the following target Noordam is aware of the saying: "The Dutch product is smooth and is of a good size. We sell our tomatoes unsized. This is acceptable as buyers find taste more important than size." The Sicilian tomato is known because of its sweet taste. The price is higher than that of the Moroccan and Spanish, Noordam tells. "In Norway they pay more for taste. But the Moroccan and Spanish product puts pressure on the prices."
For more information
René Noordam (e-mail)
Schego Investment & Trade Sp. z o.o. Sp.K.
48, Małomicka
59-300 Lubin
Poland
Tel: +48 767 454 208
Cell: +48 667 814 062
Fax: +48 767 464 823