The lights were also switched on in Belgium

This winter, growers at the Belgian Hoogstraten cooperative are growing more greenhouse vegetables under lights. The amount produced has not yet reached the level before the energy crisis, but there is no shortage of goods. "This applies to both niche and commercial products," says Natalie Snijers, one of the cooperative's managers. While many people stopped winter production last year and switched to cherry tomatoes, now you can see that specialties have reappeared in production. Horticulture places a lot of emphasis on varieties resistant to brown shriveling (ToBRFV virus). "This winter, we are again growing over 30 hectares of cherry tomatoes. Last year we managed it on just five hectares,” says Natalie. They put a lot of emphasis on Miss Perfect Délice, Sweetest Queen and San Marzano tomato specialties. "San Marzano has been very well received by our customers, so from the 12th and 13th week we will start distributing it in Belgian retail and in certain export markets." In the ...