Wim Peters Kwekerijen, Someren (2019)

Family business Wim Peters Kwekerijen produces, grows and packages Roma tomatoes and other special and exclusive tomato varieties over 16 hectares in Someren.  The company is progressive, independent and forward-looking and sees many opportunities for tomato cultivation. The company uses the latest sustainable techniques wherever possible to achieve optimal results and the best quality. An example of this is LED lighting, which makes it possible to grow crops more energy-efficiently and productively all year round. The company is the front-runner in the Netherlands with 11 ha of LED lighting.

Two years ago, a hailstorm destroyed the entire company in just two minutes. This was an opportunity for a fresh start. Wim Peters decided to undertake a completely new build, using the latest techniques and meeting all environmental requirements; a modern greenhouse with diffuse glass, a seven-metre-high greenhouse for better climate conditions, vertical ventilators and LED lighting.

Opinion of the expert jury: 

The jury has a great of respect for Wim Peters. It takes resilience, bravery and tenacity to start again so quickly and energetically with new personnel and a new customer portfolio after such a major disaster. During the rebuilding period the entrepreneur reformulated his vision and strategy, namely growing what the customer wants with a focus on yield instead of costs. One strength is the new sales strategy with a clear spread across various markets. The company seeks to cultivate, package and sell tomatoes as sustainably and innovatively as possible. The focus is thereby on quality and long-term honest relationships. The company started using LEDs for lighting five years ago, and it has continued this sustainable development. Peters has made choices in order to minimise future risks. The company has a sustainable personnel policy based on a defined organisational structure and clear operating processes. Wim Peters is heavily engaged with the community. Many young people from the region are coached and supported and given the opportunity to develop further within the company.

Wim Peters Kwekerijen has been nominated by ZON fruit & vegetables.