are grown organically. The second site has recently been expanded by four growing rooms of 720 m2 and has the latest technology in energy-efficient cooling systems. The company uses ammonia cooling for the growing rooms, and nitrogen cooling to chill the unit storing the harvested produce. Around 25 tons of mushrooms are harvested and traded every week. The tour continued to ProefVers in Nieuwaal and Velddriel. The powerhouses behind this enterprise are the young entrepreneurs Niek van der Ligt and Derk van de Westeringh Jr. Despite their relatively short history in the mushroom business, they have already man- aged to build up a remarkable portfolio. At their farm in Nieuwaal we saw how chestnut mush- rooms are grown and processed before being supplied to their customers, and at the new farm in Velddriel we looked at oyster mushroom cultivation on substrate packs supplied by Substraatbedrijf Horst. Flexibility and a high degree of direct contact with customers are important for Niek and Derk to carve out a successful niche in the challenging world of mushroom trading.
The day closed with a visit to Derk van de Westeringh Sr. who is responsible for shiitake growing. These mushrooms are sold via ProefVers and a number of other customers. Through a combination of mastery and instinct, Derk Sr. coaxes yields of 22 to 25% from the substrate in 1 flush in a 3-week cropping cycle. We then left for Den Bosch, where we enjoyed an evening boat trip on the river Dieze.
The number and diversity of the Paddenstoelen rijk’s customers is impressive.
Mister Oyster Mushroom Tuesday’s programme focussed on substrate production, with a visit to CNC Exotic Mush- rooms BV and Verbruggen Paddenstoelen BV. We started at CNC Exotic Mushrooms where Bert Rademakers and Willem van Hassel welcomed the visitors and gave us a look behind the scenes in the wood substrate kitchen. We watched the production of the small wood substrate packs that are filled directly into plastic bags from the mixing system via the shaping, filling and sealing machine. These bags do not have a separate filter anymore. Instead the filter is integrated into the plastic film, which is a revolutionary invention for the production of sterile substrate. They also explained how the company has evolved in the past years into a pioneering and leading player in Europe for the production of spawned, organic substrate for exotic mushrooms. Around 45% of the substrate they produce is currently exported. The amazing mushroom lunch was served up at ‘Het Paddenstoelenhuis’ owned by Rene and Marja van de Vorle in Berghem, after a brief guided tour of their farm, where they grow portabellas and shiitake. Het Paddenstoelenhuis
Pink oyster mushrooms at Verbruggen.
Mister Oyster Mushroom John Verbruggen (centre) with his wife Wendy: passion for mushrooms. Left: Patrick Romanens.
MUSHROOM BUSINESS 35
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