Mushroom growers are having a hard time of it with the sharply rising cost prices. Does this sector have a future? If it were up to Nesco, yes. With the expansion of its state-of-the-art nursery and new concepts, this Dutch company is doing all it can to keep the organic market going.
Noud Spetgens, Nesco's co-owner
Nesco cultivates organic mushrooms. With five nurseries and a sixth under construction, it is the largest of its kind in Western Europe. The company grows white, brown, and exotic mushrooms. The mushroom market has ample opportunities. "During the pandemic, that demand increased tremendously by up to 30 to 40%. After Easter this year, sales slumped again. Inflation probably plays a role in that. Consumers have only so much to spend. Pandemic sales levels might not be possible again, but there's definitely room to expand specialty and exotic mushrooms further. In the organic segment, too," begins Nesco's Noud Spetgens.
New automated cultivation system: fewer people, higher yields
That is why Nesco converted two nurseries where they used to grow regular mushrooms into Oyster and Shiitake mushroom farms. "And this year, we'll be adding a new product: Eryngii. We're finalizing an entirely new mushroom farm, so we can soon offer a total organic mushroom package we cultivated ourselves." The uncertain mushroom market did make Nesco think twice. However, they decided to go ahead with the new building plans. Noud is looking forward to the opening. "The nursery has the latest technology with a completely new harvesting system. We'll soon be able to save 30% on harvesting labor alone. And harvesting will be much less stressful," he says.
Rather than suspended cultivation beds that workers move along, harvesting the mushrooms by hand, the new nursery had tilted beds. The laborers can thus reach the product more easily. The mushrooms are conveyed by belt to a removal station, where they are automatically cut. "Besides saving on labor, we're also increasing capacity. The next step is automatic packaging; that too is very close."
2nd chance for 2nd class mushrooms
It is important to Nesco to keep the organic market going. "Especially now that everything's getting pricier. That's why we introduced Champimaatjes. A label with which we market organic class II mushrooms - products that could easily be sold on the fresh market but have a dent or spot or are the wrong size. That combats waste and offers an affordable organic product. You can already find these in German stores. We want organic mushrooms to remain accessible to everyone," explains Noud. Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland, and Austria are Nesco's main sales markets.
Jeroen Smits, Nesco's co-owner and Oyster and exotic mushroom grower.
Noud realizes that new concepts and saving labor alone will not turn the tide. "Something has to change. Cost prices are already high and are only going to get crazier. Energy, labor, compost, everything is getting extremely expensive. There are going to be losses, no matter what. That while investment is critical for our sector. We're proud that we can keep the younger generation enthused about the mushroom sector, especially now that it's experiencing so much outflow. Dennis Nusselder is our youngest grower. He grew up on a mushroom farm and now runs his own cultivation company. Isn't that great?" Noud concludes.
Noud Spetgens
Nesco B.V.
+31 (0)85 7731088
+31 (0)6 29404559
[email protected]
www.nescochampignons.nl
