Netherlands: Nomination for sweet potato plant Kitchenchef

"It sounds so simple. You make a pitch for your product and execute it in front of the jury, but I was pretty nervous." says Jolanda Nieuwenhuyze from Globe Plant. The company was nominated for the Glazen Tulp [Glass Tulip] with its Sweet Potato and Vera and had to convince the jury of the uniqueness of the concept.

The new product is an addition to the Kitchenchef herb and vegetable plant assortment of Globe Plant. The Sweet Potato or as the plant is officially called: Ipomea Batatas Beauregard, can be planted in soil in the garden as well as on the balcony or terrace in a large bucket, pot or basket.

The vegetable line also consists of fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers in different shapes and sizes. They were grown in a professional manner and with the utmost care. "But consumers will also have to do their utmost to grow the fruit." The herb line also has a wide range including basil, chives, chocolate mint, lemon balm - you name it.

And now the potato plant could win a prize. For this a pitch still needed to be given. Jolanda: "In the semis I was already hot and cold from the nerves, but then I had to tell the story live to Rob Verlinden and Lodewijk Hoekstra, among others, while there are four different groups and the Sweet Potato category of course came last. In short, after witnessing 19 candidates from tense to stuttering, the nerves were raging through my body. Once on the catwalk before the six-member jury it turned out to be quite fun to do and time was far too short to tell everything ...”

The results of the Glazen Tulp election will take place on January 21, 2016 during a gala in The Hague.