Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news!

Subscribe I am already a subscriber

You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker).

As we provide the news for free, we are relying on revenues from our banners. So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.
Thanks!

Click here for a guide on disabling your adblocker.

Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news!

Subscribe I am already a subscriber
propagator Wim van Marrewijk, Biological Youngplants

"Retail requirements are becoming stricter every year"

"We supply starting material," says Wim van Marrewijk with Dutch propagator Biological Youngplants. "Retail requirements are becoming stricter every year. Many supermarkets won't accept even the legally permitted residue levels." The nursery keeps all its mother plants in the Netherlands, where it controls the production process and can guarantee residue-free plants.

© Biological Younplants

Biological Youngplants deliver herb saplings to growers who supply supermarkets. The company does not work directly with the supermarkets. "We supply starting material," says Wim. "Retail requirements are becoming stricter every year. Many supermarkets won't accept even the legally permitted residue levels." The nursery keeps all its mother plants in the Netherlands, where it controls the production process and can guarantee residue-free plants. Wim, founder and driving force behind the Dutch herb nursery, has a singular focus: healthy, residue-free, robust starting material for organic and conventional growers across Europe.

Organic farming does not equal vulnerable crops. "We build resistance in the plant itself through biological corrections with pest-specific fungi and bacteria. It's a kind of immune system for plants," explains Wim. Cultivation is done in phases, starting in a protected 'nursery'. The company offers around 30 herbs in 57 varieties throughout the year, with 85% of these bred in-house and protected by plant breeders' rights. Everything is EU Organic, Naturland, and Bio Suisse certified.

During breeding, market needs and plant behavior are considered. For example, the company developed a rosemary variety that continues to grow in winter, making it ideal for year-round cultivation. Disease tolerance is another key focus. Their chervil varieties, for instance, are resistant to mildew. "When supermarkets specifically ask for your variety, you know you're on the right track."

Next year, they will add seed material, partly from their own production and partly from certified partners. "It's an addition, not a replacement. Distributors, in particular, want a complete package. Large growers usually stick with cuttings; they want everything taken care of," says Van Marrewijk.

© Biological Younplants

A persistent misconception is that organic should be pricier. "The cost differences are small, while you get stronger plants. Conventional growers also increasingly recognize that advantage." They sell their plants to customers in places like Germany, Switzerland, and Scandinavia. Preferences vary per region, but general demand is growing. Lemon verbena and lemon balm are particularly popular.

Of the herbs, 85% come from heated greenhouses (for year-round retail), with the rest from cold greenhouses. Some varieties, like oregano and rosemary, can even survive temperatures as low as -15°C. The range is expanding. They have added edible flowers, and organic lavender will soon be available under the name BeezzandBlossoms—especially for individuals and towns wanting insect-friendly plants.

Organic sweet potatoes are an unusual project. Biological Youngplants has been breeding sweet potato plants for 13 years, with varieties such as Delicia and Luna. Last year, they sold 8.5 million plants. They focus on flavor and shape, as well as harvestability and storage quality.

The tray concept is an innovation that ensures straight root growth, which is vital for tuber quality. And since sweet potatoes require little nitrogen, they are ideally suited for crop rotations where nitrogen reduction is necessary. "Sweet potatoes belong in sustainable agriculture," Wim concludes.

For more information:
Sustainable Youngplants BV

Wim van Marrewijk
Tel: +31 10 311 2914
Tel: +31 6 42546002
Info@biologicalyoungplants.com
www.biologicalyoungplants.com