Dutch fresh produce giant The Greenery plans to develop its production of French iceberg lettuce to extend its supply season and meet growing French demand.
The first head of iceberg lettuce grown in France was harvested for the domestic market in early October 2012 by Dutch Greenery growers Ursum-Zuurbier and Pater Broersen near Toulouse, in close collaboration with French companies.
The Greenery told Fruitnet that this inaugural French harvest represented an important step towards achieving the local production of iceberg lettuce in southern France.
“Iceberg lettuce is becoming increasingly popular in France. The demand for locally produced iceberg lettuce prompted Greenery growers Ursum-Zuurbier and Pater Broersen to dedicate 15 hectares of land to the north of Toulouse to the cultivation of this product,” said The Greenery’s Lucia Grange.
Cultivating iceberg lettuce in southern France will enable The Greenery to extend its growing season.
“Next season we aim to start harvesting in France in April and continue until local cultivation becomes impossible due to the heat. We can then switch to cultivating iceberg lettuce in the Netherlands and resume growing our crops in France in late summer,” said lettuce grower Dave Smit of Pater Broersen.
In Europe, consumers have been expressing an increasing preference for locally and sustainably grown produce, he added. Responding to this trend, The Greenery has been seeking out opportunities to cooperate with local producers or to produce locally in the core markets.
“This initiative in the south of France can lead to intensified collaboration between various Dutch and French growers, of various products, paving the way for local production in different parts of France,” said Grange.
“The internationalisation of the production is visible in all product groups (fruit and vegetables). How the collaboration will be, especially depends on the possibilities the parties involved have and the international situation offers. We strive for international sourcing in our core markets.”
