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Fons, Leo and Jac Verbeek

Gebr. Verbeek, Netherlands

Hi, we are Fons, Leo en Jac Verbeek, and we grow organic tomatoes and other vegetables for Nature & More. Each of us has his own specialisation: Fons is the tomato man, Leo the cucumber champion, and Jac the pepper specialist! Thank you for buying our products, we hope you'll enjoy them!

Our business is located in the Maas Valley in the South East of The Netherlands, close to the border with Germany. It's a beautiful area with a varied landscape including forests, moors, streams, swamps and rivers.

We started growing organic in 1997, after selling our conventional family glasshouse. We set up 3 state of the art greenhouses and each one of us started focussing on different organic crops: tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. The remainder of the land has been used to create a diverse surrounding for animals, birds and insects that are attracted to the flowers and plants in the fields and the pond.

By alternating the use of the greenhouse (through changing crops) on an annual basis, we prevent plagues and pests and keep the soil healthy. It also gives the staff a new and fresh start every year. For energy, a sustainable heating system has been installed, with three residual heating installations. During daytime, energy is delivered to the local energy station. The warmth is stored and used to heat the glasshouses at night. This saves a lot of energy.

Today our business covers 56 acres, of which approx 26 is covered with greenhouses.

The marketing of our products takes place via Nautilus Organic.

Interview with Fons Verbeek

N&M: What did converting to organic mean for you?
Fons: Development and challenges! We gradually became aware of the importance of biodiversity and soil fertility for the quality of our product. After years of growing on rock wool, this was a real revelation. We were also confronted with the challenges, difficulties and limitations of growing organically.

N&M: Can you tell something about the insects and birds at your site?
Fons: The insects and birds help us with biological control in the greenhouse. We encourage small birds in the environment to control caterpillars in the greenhouse. Whenever I am in or outside the greenhouse I look out for insects. When I spot insects that are a direct threat to the crop I contact our experts and in collaboration with them we try to find a solution quickly, often including other insects or small animals. When I see insects that are beneficial I register them. Working with the insects has been really great. We offered our staff several courses and we can really see how insects and small animals are becoming integrated in our firm. Learning and understanding the topic is a lot of fun!

N&M: Greenhouse production is very intensive and energy consuming. What sustainable practices do you apply?
Fons: We have built energy efficient greenhouses, officially recognized with the Dutch “groenkas-label”. The heating in the greenhouses is realised with residual heating units. The heat for the energy efficient greenhouses is basically a side-product from generating electricity for the local utility company. Another side-product of this process is carbon dioxide, which is not released into the atmosphere, but funnelled into the greenhouses where the plants utilize it in the production of oxygen.

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soil

Organic production means using soil, not rock wool. No synthetic pesticides or fertilizer is applied, which is beneficial for soil biodiversity. More importantly though, the Verbeek brothers make their own compost out of green waste, using the latest technologies. This has a lot of positive effects: the structure and water management of the soil is improved, biodiversity is increased, and the soil becomes very fertile. Compost also increases carbon sequestration in the soil, so it's good for the climate too.

biodiversity

Outside the greenhouses, a natural setting has been created with trees, shrubs and ponds to provide a natural habitat for native wildlife and badgers, foxes and owls are regularly spotted. Inside the greenhouse, insects and birds help with the biological control of pests and plagues. For example, birds are encouraged to enter the greenhouse because they eat caterpillars. Good compost and the avoidance of chemicals increases biodiversiy in the soil, which stimulates biodiversity above the soil as well. Fons: “It’s really impressive. We offered our staff several courses and we can confirm that insects and small animals are becoming integrated in our firm. Learning and understanding the topic is a lot of fun!"

Although a large part of the Verbeek property is covered by the greenhouses a significant area is dedicated for other purposes. Fons “The remainder of the land has been used to create a diverse surrounding for animals, birds and insects that are attracted to the flowers and plants in the fields and the pond”. For the brothers this is an important part of business. “We invest a lot of time in appropriate systems to use and improve the organic methods in our self created environment. To help us achieve this we have written a ‘nature plan’ that includes the natural life in and around the greenhouse”. Furthermore, since organic farming is all about working with nature, legislation prohibits the use of GMO.

individual

Tomatoes are a valuable source of food minerals and vitamins, particularly vitamins A and C.
Cucumbers are a source of vitamin K. Vitamin K contributes to a normal coagulation of the blood and is good for the bones
Red bell peppers have more than twice the vitamin C of a green pepper. Bell peppers are a good source of Vitamin A.

Every year 20.000 to 340.000 farmworkers die of pesticide poisoning and 1 to 5 million farmworkers get sick from it. In organic cultivation no chemical-synthetic pesticides are used and significantly less pesticide residues are found on organic products in the store. Research indicates (Fantke & Jolliet, 2016) that this also has a health effect for consumers. In short, we can say with confidence that organic fruits and vegetables, on the average, are healthier. And that also goes for our tomatoes and other vegetables.

society

Individual development and empowerment leads to freedom which is the basis for all progress. Education and training is key to allowing the individual to develop and empower themselves, it also an essential part of running a successful business. Fons Verbeek explains: “To obtain better understanding of the meaning of organic production as well as reaching optimal organic yield, the staff receives a general introduction on organic agriculture and consequently an intensive training on specific parts in the production process. We offer trainings to the staff, segmented so not everyone has the same specific knowledge but people can specialize”.

The Verbeek brothers are also involved in the local community: "Our warehouse is often available for making big carnival carts, for parties, table tennis and our famous carnaval party. Furthermore, every year we organise a large volleyball tournament that ends with a great party !

Since the Verbeek brothers work according to Dutch and EU labor legislation, health & safety issues, implementation of employee welfare schemes, pension plans, safe working conditions, employee rights are fully respected and adhered to. For the brothers “solidarity” also means providing a safe and pleasant working environment. Where safety speaks for itself a “pleasant working environment” is harder to define. Fons: “For us teambuilding is the key to creating a great place to work, it is very important in our business. We work with local Dutch and more international employees. For example, we offer a Polish-Dutch language course that has made the integration of the group easier."

climate

The Verbeek brothers are continously looking for innovative, environmentally friendly ways of heating their greenhouses using a minimum quantity of fossil fuels. A good example is the CHP (Combined Heat & Power system known in Holland as WKK, from the Dutch warmte kracht koppeling). Since CHP was first implemented in the late eighties, the concept has changed little: electricity is produced for the national grid by burning fuel and an additional benefit is that the greenhouse is heated by the warmth that is released. Added benefit for the grower is that he can pump the C02 into the greenhouse, which is taken up by the plants. So these energy-saving measures also reduce greenhouse gas emissions considerably.

The Verbeek brothers have an energy-efficient residual heating system. The CO2 that is produced is led back into the greenhouse, where plants assimilate it in photosynthesis. All this reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The carbon footprint of their vegetables was measured in 2008 in a full life cycle carbon assessment. The products can be delivered climate neutral, by compensating the emissions with carbon credits from organic agriculture.

CO2-footprint:

Tomatoes: 3,613 kg C02e / kg

Peppers: 4,286 kg CO2e / kg

Cucumbers: 3,566 kg CO2e / kg

What does this mean
The footprint shows the amount of greenhouse gas emission for one kilogram of fruit, for the whole production process: from the greenhouse to the store. The average CO2 footprint for fruit is 3,4 CO2 / kg, according tot the Food Climate Research network. If you drive 10 km to work and back in a small car every day (Volkswagen Polo), you use 2,6 kg CO2 (depending on the age of the car).

Technical explanation:
All emissions are taken into account, including transport and packaging. The calculations for carbon footprint are based on the reported emissions in 2008. The assessments are done according to a comparable methodology as described in the PAS 2050, a standard developed by the British Standard InstituteIt was carried out by Soil & More International BV. www.soilandmore.com

water

Fons, Jac and Leo, like many other organic farmers around the world regards water not just as an input into the agricultural cycle, but as a vital resource that must be protected and enhanced through careful management.

Based in The Netherlands (where the next rain storm is just around the corner), lack of water is seldom a problem. The water that is collected from the greenhouses flows into a small neighbouring stream and runs into the adjoining nature reserve. For the plants, the Verbeek brothers pump up water from a well and only use what is absolutely necessary.

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