School holidays have commenced in two out of the three regions in the Netherlands, with the Northern regions set to start on Friday. This provides students with the opportunity to get a gig to save up on some cash, for instance, in greenhouses. However, growers have noticed a declining interest in working in the greenhouse industry over recent years. It's a recurring theme at this time of year.
For Jorrit Jonkers of Bonnaterra, it's an era he's gradually concluding. The North Brabant-based organic cultivation company no longer actively recruits among the youth, he shares on LinkedIn. "Currently, my labor situation is well managed. There are still a few young people working, and that's fine. But I'm not actively recruiting anymore. In fact, if young people ask for work, I no longer offer that opportunity."
Valuable and enjoyable
In the past, the company employed many more young people. "As long as my parents were growers and later on myself, we worked with schoolchildren and students at our company. They always filled a large part of our labor needs. Youngsters started with small tasks like unfolding boxes or weeding from around the age of 13 and often grew with the company. Especially when they had final exams or were on holiday, they could often work many hours. It was very valuable for us. It was cost-effective, the youngsters filled in for permanent staff who were on holiday, and it was also quite enjoyable."
Changing times
There have also been young people who started working at the company permanently. However, the world has changed in recent years, the organic grower observes. "Those few young people who still wanted to come work were often gone by the age of 16." Especially on Saturdays and during the holidays, young people would come to work. "But on Saturdays, for example, they also have to play football and leave early. And during the holidays, they are often on vacation themselves."
In local hospitality, shops, and supermarkets, Jorrit sees continuous recruitment of schoolchildren and students. "I think they must be noticing the same thing," he says. The grower, who has no children of his own, also hears stories from parents who give their children money with the message: go enjoy yourself, you can work later. "Those parents apparently don't understand that it's difficult to enjoy sitting on a terrace when there's no one left to serve your drink and your food."
Saturday morning
This season, the greenhouses are filled with peppers and tomatoes. About twenty people work at Bonnaterra. "Part-time, freelance, and largely temporary workers. They start sometime in the period from March to May and stay with us until the fall."
Especially on Saturdays, Jorrit notices the difference from having fewer young people and students at the company. "I can go about my own business on Saturdays. I find that very pleasant, although I sometimes miss the camaraderie." Staying home on a Saturday morning is now easier. "My girlfriend appreciates that too." And when he is there, he can do his own work without having to supervise or check on 'the youth.'
Hoping for stable dry weather
Labor is a challenge for growers, but so is the changing climate, the grower shares when asked for a photo of a flooded loading dock. Not for the first time this year, water had to be pumped out. "We had to pump again today," he sighs. "Also on Friday, and on Tuesday ten panes were broken by the storm."
A total of 65 millimeters of rain fell in Oirschot on Tuesday. On Friday, 45 millimeters. The heavy rainfall is not directly an issue for the soil in the greenhouse, the grower notes. "But all those rain clouds do block out light. We miss the sunlight. Also, the climate in the greenhouse is more humid. Fortunately, we're able to keep fungal problems relatively under control. Compared to last year, the tomatoes are doing better. The peppers, a bit less so. We're seeing a bit more botrytis."
The grower hopes for 'finally' two weeks of stable dry weather. "We haven't had that since last October." The schoolchildren and students would surely appreciate that, whether they're working in the greenhouse in the morning and enjoying the beautiful weather in the afternoon, or perhaps even working on the terrace.