Bernard Zuidgeest is a board member of nursery Together2Grow . That ' together ' is not only in the company name , but also in his surplus time , in which he like to toy Lucille Ball or kickball with friend . He recently carry his concern about the hub in Naaldwijk in the FPC Alstroemeria . In this column , he rarify on this and play up solvent steering .
' Naaldwijk is the most important hub for flower growers . The bulk of flowers are grown in Westland . Yet the supply of flowers to this very hub is decreasing . As a result , flush for , among others , the United Kingdom are crossing the A4 twice . First to the north , to Aalsmeer , and then back south again , to the Hook of Holland . That is distressing . And it is up to growers , exporter and Royal Flora Holland to turn the tide .
Because why are we doing it this way ? Many large exporters choose one hub for price reasons . And that hub is Aalsmeer . We agriculturalist follow the exporters . They are our customer after all . We take the surplus transport cost for granted . Not to refer the unnecessary extra environmental burden that this way of organize causes . That has to switch . But if exporters and grower keep looking at each other , nothing will bechance . And I think Royal FloraHolland also has a theatrical role to play in putting the hub in Naaldwijk even comfortably on the single-valued function .
rent ’s confront it : no cultivator in the Westland is croak to be happy about enthral flowers to Aalsmeer unnecessarily . efflorescence for the marketplace in Scandinavia and Germany ? Those can go to that hub just fine . But are the flowers blend south or to the United Kingdom ? Then use the hub in Naaldwijk . That is less harmful to the environment and it reduce costs . If we all make that choice , the exporter will follow mechanically . Saving price and CO2 tax is also important for them . They just postulate to become more aware .
What can Royal FloraHolland do ? I do not believe in obligation . I think that change works better if the political party themselves are behind it . It has to come from the market . Because market parties realize why it is necessary . That prevents resistance and secure support . But the conjunctive can of grade make the hub in Naaldwijk more attractive . For example , by lowering rents . Or by speed up delivery time even further .
It also works that fashion for pricing . Most of the flowers now end up in Aalsmeer . This allows for dissolute delivery , and exporters are felicitous to pay for that . But there is a maximum to this . At some head the roof in Aalsmeer is make , both in terms of infinite and personnel office . Then legal transfer fourth dimension increase and prices strike . By distributing flowers better - and by sale market - over the various hubs , we can preclude that .
In short : spreading our flowers over the various hubs has many reward . It reduces ( transport ) costs and CO2 emission . We can hand over faster and more expeditiously , which in turn has a positive encroachment on pricing . And we are assure of continuity in the manpower and blank available at the hubs . That ’s a win - win - win : for us as agriculturist , for our client and for the cooperative . It ’s time to act now . '
For more information : Royal FloraHollandwww.royalfloraholland.com
