Tomorrow even better than today
Schenkeveld is the specialist in growing tomatoes
The bigger picture
Sustainability, that one word. A theme that everyone does something with, works on and talks about. Not a choice for Schenkeveld, but part of the normal way of working. Yes, it's about ''just'' a tomato. And above all, it just has to be tasty. Growing tomatoes sustainably is in many details at Schenkeveld. This is how Schenkeveld contributes to a nicer world for future generations. Schenkeveld works on the bigger picture.
That's who we are, that's what we do. Feel, hear, experience and see what we do for ''just'' a tomato.
Sustainability
Sustainability is something we are constantly working on. We use our resources, such as energy, sparingly. We generate electricity using gas turbine engines. CO2 and heat are released in the process. Everything is used to grow our tomatoes. Another important raw material is water. 98% of the water we recycle. We also work with the district water board to collect peaks in rainwater. Our greenhouses are built under green label, these greenhouses comply with all environmental requirements.
By optimising processes, we can grow delicious tomatoes with as few raw materials as possible. We do this as organically as possible.
Social
Schenkeveld is socially involved. We have a vending machine to sell tomatoes to consumers and we have an AED at each location, which the neighbourhood has been made aware of. So they can also use it if needed. We also sponsor local sports clubs and local charities and offer work to schoolchildren on Saturdays and holidays.
Some of these apprentices, we can offer a nice position at our company. 50% of our current middle management started at Schenkeveld as apprentices. Our employees are encouraged to take training and education courses. We also conduct an annual survey into the job satisfaction of all our employees and we use the results to work on improvements.
Innovations
Improving processes and increasing sustainability through innovations are projects that continuously optimise our organisation.
Air handling units
AHUs allow greenhouse air to be mixed with outside air, reheated to the greenhouse temperature and then blown out above the crop via hoses. The purpose of such a system is to accurately dehumidify greenhouse air. In any case, more accurately than with screen vents or window vents. Every m³ of outside air you exchange too much costs energy, and every gram of moisture you remove too little puts you at risk of disease or abnormalities. Moreover, with trunks it is easier to blow in the same amount of air everywhere, so the horizontal temperature distribution is better than if it is left to chance with gaps.
Keeping heat in is saving energy. This can add up to 20% savings on cold days. That makes this solution hugely sustainable. Schenkeveld Schiphol was the first to install this system in tomatoes.
Double screen
To maximise energy savings, Schenkeveld opted for a double screen installation. This allows us to easily save 20% of energy in the colder periods. In tomato cultivation, this solution is only good to use in combination with dehumidification, otherwise too much moisture is created in the greenhouse, which we cannot drain. If you can save 20% energy in the colder periods, it is immediately clear what is sustainable about this solution.Using less energy is the first step in making your business more sustainable.
Schenkeveld has gained a lot of knowledge about dehumidification in tomato greenhouses, so we can apply this energy-saving investment.
TRIAS Westland
Trias Westland is a project by and for greenhouse entrepreneurs. Through our own cooperative, we work together with each other and with large regional parties to achieve a sustainable energy supply. We can use geothermal heat to sustainably heat the greenhouses. In the Netherlands, heat increases by an average of 30°C per kilometre depth. The soil contains very many sedimentary layers that contain water and are well permeable, allowing hot water to be pumped up from the depths. This water can be used to heat greenhouses.
The cooled water goes back into the ground via a second well and is reheated by the earth's core. Utilising geothermal heat is necessary to make our greenhouse heat supply more sustainable. It offers a sustainable alternative to traditionally extracting heat from natural gas. Where possible, Schenkeveld joins geothermal projects that are emerging in the region.
At other locations, heat supply is filled with combined heat and power plants. Here, we make use of the residual heat released when generating electricity. This generated electricity is supplied to the electricity grid.
Solar panels
Schenkeveld is also generating sustainable energy through solar panels. All the roofs of our processing facilities have been fitted with solar panels since spring 2023. Thus, we have about 5,500 solar panels and generate an average of 2,000,000 kW of energy.
A nice mix of different energy sources and storing the energy we generate during the day and use in the evening creates a sustainable pallet that allows us to properly supply the greenhouses with heat, among other things.
Solar panels are very interesting to Schenkeveld precisely in the mix with other energy sources. Especially in today's energy market, where agility and flexibility are essential.
LED illumination
Over 33 hectares of Schenkeveld's total acreage is equipped with LED lighting. The lighting enables us to supply delicious vine tomatoes to our customers all year round.
With LED lighting, we save a lot of energy compared to traditional lighting systems, so this is much more efficient and sustainable.
Gearstations
Schenkeveld uses 4 Gearstations from Gearbox. A Gearstation is a fully automatic quality inspection system incorporated in the packaging line of our tomatoes. Every box or crate of tomatoes coming out of the greenhouse is automatically checked by the Gearstation for things like weight, colour and quality deviations. This enables us to increase quality and save labour costs; so 2 birds with one stone.
GLOBALG.A.P. GRASP
GLOBALG.A.P.
Certifications
Om de kwaliteit te waarborgen en te voldoen aan de eisen als het gaat om oa voedselveiligheid, beschikken we over vele certificaten die we elk jaar opnieuw toetsen. Dit geeft zekerheid aan onze klanten. Schenkeveld hanteert daarnaast duidelijke regels als het gaat om hygiëne.
Growing together
Harting Holland
Harting Holland is the sister company of Schenkeveld. Both companies fall under the same group of family-owned businesses.
Callystar
Schenkeveld is a partner and shareholder in the Moroccan nursery Callystar. Here we grow snack and cherry tomatoes for the European market in a sustainable manner.
ACRES
Schenkeveld is a partner and shareholder in ACRES. ACRES has six sites located in 's-Gravenzande and Maasdijk. Together it grows on almost 50 hectares, both exposed and unlit.
bQurius
Embrace Change, which is the approach of bQurius. Together with bQurius' expert advisers, they can share knowledge and help companies grow in multiple specialisms that require daily attention.
Prominent
From January 2002, Schenkeveld has been a member of the growers' association Prominent. Prominent is an innovative growers' association. All growers grow vine tomatoes of different varieties. Together, they package vine tomatoes and innovate.
Growers United
Schenkeveld is a member of Growers United, who is responsible for all sales and marketing of our product.
PASSION promises
Positive: Full of Passion
Schenkeveld is a family business full of passion for entrepreneurship. With a want is able mentality, we strive for perfection. Delivering a perfect product all year round is what we do with pleasure! We measure this pleasure in our annual work happiness survey.
Ambitious: Tomorrow even better than today
To deliver consistently high quality, we have set key metrics. For instance, we do a strict self-examination, we are at the top of Growers United's keur, and in recent years we have shown that we turn out top productions, for instance, we get the most tomatoes from a m2 on average. And that with sustainable use of raw materials.
Our strict hygiene requirements enable us to grow tomatoes even when the tomato virus is lurking. Through 100% company clothing and strict protocols, we have a clear hygiene policy.
Specialist: Top sport in tomatoes
By constantly investing in improving our knowledge, we aim to compete at the top of tomato cultivation. Each location is managed by a cultivation specialist. Cultivation managers support the locations. In addition, each location is visited by the cultivation extension officer. By working closely with industry specialists such as Hoogendoorn and Van Ieperen, we have access to the most up-to-date cultivation information.
Growing together: open and transparent
Actively seeking collaborations results in Schenkeveld often participating in great projects that in turn help us grow our business. This is only possible if you are open and transparent. Together you get further. You can see examples of this with schools, with the employment agency and also with AI developments.
Inventive: Optimise
Developing new techniques is essential for Schenkeveld. THE step towards optimising all your processes. You can see that in our innovations, where actively using data is definitely the step into the future.
Own responsibility: The bigger picture
Of course, Schenkeveld takes its responsibility to sustainable business. We work on the bigger picture, which includes maximum organic cultivation, recirculation of water, effective use of raw materials, but also being a good employer and feeling responsible for the environment. Even though you might think it's just a tomato.