Primato, a Belgian tomato grower based in the town of Putte, has announced its intention to expand by adding a new greenhouse of 11.7 hectares alongside its existing greenhouse. Despite the land having been owned by the company for six years now, they have only just received the construction permits. "Finding land in Belgium is a challenge, getting the right permits is even more so," grower Kevin Pittoors muses on the situation.
With the permits now secured, construction has begun, a development that prompted Chelsey Kenis and Kevin Pittoors to recently visit the construction site with their children and Kevin's brother, Colin Pittoors, to take some family photos.
The groundwork and the construction of the basins will soon enter their final phase. In an update on the construction, Next month the greenhouse builder can get started, Kevin shares in a construction update. "The 3.5-meter difference in terrain level made the groundwork quite challenging."
The young, ambitious company, which recently won a local entrepreneur award, built 12 hectares of glass greenhouses in two phases in 2015 and 2017. "We've owned the land for the new greenhouse for six years," says Kevin, "So it really has taken a long time to get these permits."
Separated from current location
The new greenhouse is physically separated from the existing location, in part due to hygiene concerns. In addition to the greenhouse, a new company building will be constructed, which will include staff facilities, a small meeting room, and offices. Also included will be a new energy room, a room for water technology, and a warehouse. Kenis Industriebouw will start the construction of the warehouse and company buildings next week, while Van Amelsvoort Kassenbouw will start piling in early June.
Unlit
The plan is to be able to plant new crops at the new location, dubbed De Plassen, in January 2026. The new greenhouse will be unlit, as there is "currently no intention to use lighting," unlike the current greenhouse, where Primato uses partial lighting.
The crops that will be grown in the new greenhouse will depend on the market situation and will also be grown in consultation with the BelOrta cooperative. For now, the intention is to have Cherrystar on one-third of the area and medium-sized cluster tomatoes from the Elite segment on the remaining two-thirds.
The new location of Primato will be called De Plassen, a name that references the nearby flood and nature area, Jutse Plassen. Besides the new greenhouse, a "green-blue area" of approximately 10 hectares will be developed and connected to the artificially constructed water retention basin at Jutse Plassen.
For more information:
Primato
www.primato.be
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