The large, new, 6 hectare greenhouse of eggplant nursery De Jong in greenhouse horticultural area Nieuw Prinsenland in Dinteloord (Netherlands) is being harvested. In the last year, they have worked hard to finish the greenhouse in time for the new harvest season of 2019. With success, because at the end of 2018, the plants were placed, and in week 8 the first eggplants were harvested in the new greenhouse.
Because of the extension, plenty has been readjusted in the post-harvest area. A new sorting machine has been placed to deal with the larger volumes.
Cultivation location De Jong was ready for an extension. Tom de Jong, son of Peter de Jong, came into the company, and the eggplant is increasing in popularity. Purple Pride, which takes care of the sales, tells us that the eggplant market is growing. "Consumers know better what to do with the eggplant. It is a good meat substitute and fits well in world dishes we see more and more in the Dutch kitchens."
The average Dutch person is now eating 300 grams of eggplant per year. In the southern countries, such as Italy, Spain, or Turkey, that is on average 10 kilos per person. "So there is an enormous potential for growth. With the extension, we can anticipate on the increasing demand for eggplants in the future."
For more information:
Purple Pride
www.purplepride.nl