In 2000, Kees van Beek, of Langeweg in the southern province of Brabant was certified as an organic farmer, producing vegetables, potatoes, onions and herbs. In 2005 he merged his company with the farms of two neighbours to cut costs and improve efficiency.

Biotrio De Nieuwe Weg is the name of their 240-hectare farm. One of their major innovations was the introduction of a GPS-guided tracking system for harvesters and other machines. Keeping machines on exactly the same tracks through furrowed land enables highly efficient weeding and has led to improvements of the soil in the actual plant beds, as well as higher yields. Van Beek and partners sell their produce directly to distributors in Germany and Belgium. Part of their production is sold fresh, other products, like some vegetables, are processed.

Export to Germany and Belgium
Van Beek has wide and direct experience with export markets. At the moment his international bestsellers are the herbs and the carrots. “All our herbs go to Belgium and our entire carrot harvest goes to Germany”, says Van Beek.

Dutch carrots are a highly appreciated crop in Germany. “Dutch carrots are of excellent quality”, he explains. “And that is the result of a combination of knowledge, storage and logistics.”

And to be honest, the climate helps also. “In Germany itself the soil is generally much drier than it is here, and that has a negative influence on the carrots”, says Van Beek.