The sudden halt in operations at Plantenkwekerij Jongerius has stirred up quite a bit of conversation in the horticultural world. Several companies have already stepped forward to fill the gap and supply the missing volumes, not only in the Netherlands but also in Germany, according to a recent update from GroentenNieuws (link in Dutch).
One of those stepping in is the family-run business Wunderlich, located in the town of Willich, between Germany's Ruhr region and the Dutch-German border. The nursery, which is Naturland-certified, specializes in organic young plants and offers a wide range of plant material. Their assortment includes everything from fruiting vegetables to open-field crops such as cabbage and lettuce, as well as herbs and niche products like sweet potatoes and black kale, says Alexander Wunderlich.
© Wunderlich Bio-Jungpflanzen
State-of-the-art greenhouse
At its main site on the edge of the Ruhr region, near the city triangle of Düsseldorf, Mönchengladbach, and Krefeld, Wunderlich operates a modern greenhouse complex focused mainly on growing fruiting vegetables. "A few years ago, we expanded our under-glass area from three to five hectares and equipped the facility with LED lighting and an ebb-and-flow irrigation system. Thanks to this setup, we can deliver consistent volumes of high-quality produce all year round," the company explains.
This expansion responds to the growing demand for organic fruiting vegetables. "We have a huge market right on our doorstep and supply a wide range of customers in the German–Dutch border region. On top of that, we deliver once or twice a week to Rotterdam and Venlo. Our sales team has also grown with a new member dedicated to the Dutch market, ensuring our customers there can communicate with us in their own language."
© Wunderlich Bio-Jungpflanzen
Wide customer base
Since the sudden closure of Jongerius, the phones at the German company have been ringing nonstop. "On one hand, we're hearing from existing customers who used to buy part of their supply from Jongerius but are now relying entirely on us. On the other hand, we're also attracting new customers who are working with us for the first time. Luckily, we're in a position to serve both ends of the market, whether it's a small business with a wide product range or a specialized horticultural company growing several hectares of fruiting vegetables."
© Wunderlich Bio-Jungpflanzen
With their own, mainly heated trucks, the organic plants are delivered according to agreement in the core area of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, and the adjacent Netherlands, but also towards Denmark or Austria.
For more information:
Wunderlich Bio-Jungpflanzen
Owner: Daniel Wunderlich
Beckershöfe 11 b
47877 Willich, Germany
Jochen Bourquin
Tel: +49 (0) 171 651 07 96
[email protected]
http://www.jungpflanzenbetrieb.de/
http://www.bio-jungpflanzen.com/
"for home gardening"
Office NL:
Tel: +31 (0)6 117 692 45
http://www.biowonderplant.nl/
