In Honselersdijk, in the Dutch greenhouse region of Westland, Villa Curcuma is the sole operation in the Netherlands growing cut curcuma under glass. Growers Dean and Mike Zuidgeest cultivate the crop on one hectare, adjacent to Villa Gerbera, where they also grow gerberas. The crop is produced from February through November and is available at all major Dutch auction locations.
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Dean Zuidgeest
"It is a very specific crop," says Dean Zuidgeest. "Our staff goes through each row and selects the best stems by hand. After cutting, the stems are sorted and packed in buckets of 16 or 20, according to customer specifications." Only the highest quality grade leaves the operation under the Decorum quality label, of which Villa Curcuma is a member.
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Eye-catcher
Plant material is sourced from KP Holland. In total, seven varieties are grown, with stem lengths ranging from 50 to 70 centimetres. The range also includes two XXL specialty varieties, and mixed bouquets are offered as well.
"It is a product with a lot of versatility," Dean says. "It is a real eye-catcher in a bouquet, but it is also increasingly sold loose, in bunches of three or five stems, for example."
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Supply and market
Cut curcuma has found a solid position at the Dutch auctions and is currently in demand. "Early in the season, availability is limited and demand is strong," Dean explains. "As volumes increase after Mother's Day, market prices tend to ease. But it remains a niche product, not a bulk commodity."
Demand peaks around Mother's Day, when consumers look for something distinctive. "An eye-catcher like curcuma fits perfectly in a Mother's Day bouquet," Dean says.
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Vase life
One of the crop's key strengths is its exceptional vase life. Stems can remain in good condition for three to four weeks. However, correct post-harvest handling is critical.
"This flower must never go into a cold store," Dean stresses. "If it does, it will wilt within a week. The temperature must stay above 15 degrees Celsius, during storage and transport. That is absolutely essential for quality." Dean notes that this knowledge is not always present further down the supply chain, making grower and trade communication on the topic important.
For more information:
Villa Curcuma
Broekpolderlaan 90
2675 LK Honselersdijk
+316 311 65 131
[email protected]
www.VillaCurcuma.com
