Eight months a year, organic vegetables from the Spree Forest

Since the end of March, the first organic cucumbers from local cultivation in Brandenburg have been available in the approximately 50 Alnatura Super Natur markets in northern and eastern Germany. This season, the Landgut Pretschen in the Spree Forest has started growing a range of cucumber and tomato varieties in a two-hectare greenhouse. These are produced exclusively for the organic company Alnatura and meet Bioland quality standards. They include special varieties such as black cocktail tomatoes on the vine, which are unique in Germany in organic quality. The season for organic vegetables from Pretschen runs from the end of March to mid-November, a total of almost eight months a year. All the vegetable varieties will gradually be added to the range over the coming months. The goods can be found in all Alnatura Super Natur markets in northern and eastern Germany, such as in Kiel, Hamburg, and Bremen, as well as in Berlin, Leipzig, Erfurt, and Dresden.

The greenhouse is operated in collaboration with the Reichenau-Gemüse growers' association, a long-standing partner of Alnatura based on Lake Constance. The collaboration is based on the proven cultivation plan with Bioland grower Max Meissner. For several years now, he has been growing products exclusively for Alnatura at the 'Reichenauer Gärtnersiedlung' in Beuren on Lake Constance.

Commitment to organic farming
By expanding its cooperation with the Reichenau growers' association, Alnatura aims to further strengthen organic farming in Germany. Through the long domestic season and the exclusive contract farming in Pretschen, Alnatura is reliably ensuring more regional organic agriculture in Brandenburg and stable availability of organic produce. In addition, the transportation distances for organic vegetables in northern and eastern Germany can be reduced, which also contributes to active climate protection.

© Jonas Werner-Hohensee / www.jonas-werner.comFrom left to right: Ingo Bernhard, Sales Manager Reichenau-Gemüse, Andre Wagner, Department Manager in the Assortment Management Fruit and Vegetables at Alnatura, Max Meissner, grower and agricultural and business manager at Reichenau-Gemüse

Fair and reliable partnership
Andre Wagner, head of the fruit and vegetable department at Alnatura, comments on the new vegetable partnership in Brandenburg: "We are delighted to have realized this new project at Landgut Pretschen together with Reichenau-Gemüse and Max Meissner. This means we can offer our customers in the north and east high-quality organic vegetables from Brandenburg. The short transportation distances ensure optimal freshness from the greenhouse to the vegetable shelf. We place particular emphasis on the products' flavor and on offering the widest possible selection."

Ingo Bernhard, Sales Manager at Reichenau-Gemüse, adds: "The partnership with Alnatura and the new project in Pretschen are an important step for us in further expanding regional organic vegetable cultivation. We are pleased to be able to contribute our know-how and experience from the south to the east of Germany and thus to the sustainable supply of fresh organic vegetables. The close cooperation with Max Meissner and Alnatura stands for reliability, quality, and a clear vision for the future."

For more information:
www.alnatura.de/
www.reichenaugemuese.de/