The Grapevine 2016 EN

2016

Feet on the ground and eyes to the horizon Maarten Schrijvershof

A textbook example of partnership Deona, South Africa

Colombian Hass, a high-altitude avocado Daleska, Colombia

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I heard it through The Grapevine ‘Through the grapevine’ is an expression used to indicate the way information is passed from one person to another informally, for example between friends or colleagues. The expression dates from the time that news and gossip were spread mainly while working on the land and in the vineyards.

As a family firm, we at Schrijvershof know all too well how valuable relationships are. And you maintain good relationships by staying in contact with each other, in words and in actions. At Schrijvershof we do our very best every day to be of service to our growers and buyers, with expert advice, well-thought-out solutions, sincere interest and useful information. In this magazine we tell you more about how we do this.

You heard it through the grapevine.

Colofon © Schrijvershof B.V. 2016 ‘The Grapevine 2016’ is published by Schrijvershof B.V.

No rights can be claimed from the content of this magazine. Schrijvershof B.V. has done its utmost to list all copyright holders of the images used.

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Feet on the ground and eyes to the horizon

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How threats become opportunities

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Cool Port – The countdown has started …

A textbook example of partnership

Colombian Hass, a high-altitude avocado

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Magical realism in South America

Editing: Schrijvershof B.V. and WebNL Images: BEELDKRACHT, Shutterstock, Juliana Botero, Karen Winter, Beeldbank Rijkswaterstaat, Daleska, Deona, Kloosterboer, Anfassa and Schrijvershof B.V.

Text contributed by: Jörg Lange / Hasselkus PR Thanks to: Daleska, Deona, HDG The Fruit Consultants, Kloosterboer, CoolPort and Storm Design and layout: WebNL Translation: FLP Vertalingen

Feet on the ground and eyes to the horizon

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A S A N I M P O R T E R A N D E X P O R T E R O F F R U I T A N D V E G E TA B L E S , I ’ V E S E E N A LOT OF BEAUTIFUL PLACES IN THE WORLD. BUT HERE IN THE POLDERS OF THE ‘HOEKSCHE WAARD’, IN THE SOUTH OF THE NETHERLANDS, WA L K I N G W I T H M Y D O G S TO R M , I S W H E R E I A LWAY S F E E L M O S T AT H O M E .

a very different way of working, and that ultimately gives not only the best quality but the best price as well, for both growers and buyers.

Our family firm has its roots in this region; this is where it all started. At the same time, this place offers beautiful and panoramic views. Walking over this dike, I realise how big the world is, and how easy it is to go almost anywhere. This is precisely how I see our family firm: firmly rooted in the Dutch clay soil and with both feet on the ground, but at the same time with a wide view of the endless possibilities of international collaboration.

That ‘collaboration’ has made us the intermediary that we are today. You see, we’re convinced that ‘collaboration’ is much more than connecting suppliers with customers. We don’t want to be a trading company focused on tough negotiations over the lowest price and the highest yield.

We don’t want to be another expendable link in the chain from producer to consumer.

That’s not our style. We aim to connect the interest of the buyer to that of the grower, because we believe that that’s the only way to create real win-win situations. That’s

Maarten Schrijvershof, walking with his dog Storm in the polders of the Hoeksche Waard in the south of the Netherlands.

We choose to work this way because we believe it’s the only way to build and maintain long-standing relationships. Always chasing down the lowest price and the best deal creates short-lived relationships based on the issue of the moment, in which mutual trust is superficial and easily shattered.

That’s not the right way to work on quality, innovate or optimise processes. To really gain ground in these areas, you have to know and trust each other for years. Only then can you really know and cater to the needs of both sides. For us, a long-term relationship like this is worth much more than a one-off deal.

That’s how we want to work with our associates and select our partners, and how we’d like to be selected ourselves. It is a very intensive way of working together, however.

Since we keep up personal contacts with all our associates, we’re often on the road.

We visit our growers to see the plantations with our own eyes, to help optimise business processes or to advise on packing and certification. For our buyers, it makes us their ‘eyes and ears on the ground’ so that they can count on getting a high-quality, safe and sustainable product. We take our buyers along to the places where their fruit and vegetables are grown, so that they can also see with their own eyes where their produce comes from, and who grows it. And we invite growers to see how their harvest looks here in the supermarkets and at the

wholesalers in Europe. Keeping up contacts ourselves this way with growers and buyers, and bringing them into contact with each other, creates understanding, thereafter trust and ultimately the willingness to stand up for each other’s interests. That makes the difference between ‘trading’ and working together. That makes the difference between a trader and a partner. 

“ I’ve noticed

that we’re not the only ones who like to work this way ”

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 I’ve noticed that we’re not the only ones who like to work this way. New developments and new partners are continually coming our way. The fruit and vegetable market may be built on tradition, but it’s anything but static.

And this dynamism fits us well. Because in spite of the fact that we’re growing every year, our organisation is light and fast enough on its feet to be able to respond quickly to developments in the market. And we do!

For example, we’re seeing increasing demand for mangos and avocados. These fruits are gaining popularity fast, since they’re tasty and they fit in with a healthy diet.

The ready-to-eat concept has made these fruits more accessible to consumers, and demand for these products has skyrocketed as a result. In order to be able to meet this demand year-round, in 2015 we expanded our network to include selected avocado growers in Colombia. Avocado growing is really taking off in Colombia. Colombian avocados are of comparable quality to those from established avocado-growing countries like Chile and Peru. And because of the favourable location, on ‘our’ side of the Panama canal, the transport takes about a week less than from a country like Peru. In South Africa we are continuously working with our partner Deona on improving

product quality, packing and a sustainable production method. Deona hopes to put a completely new, state-of-the-art packing station into use in 2016. Closer to home, HDG does everything it can to inspect and analyse the quality of our products. With the help of their expertise, we’re aiming to get valuable advice for growers and buyers.

In this way, our rich history, long-standing network and extensive expertise are helping us grow a little bit every day.

And speaking of growing, we’re aiming to grow in both quality and in volume. Recently we’ve noticed that we’re slowly reaching the limits of our facilities in Oud-Beijerland.

So we’re looking ahead in this way as well. We’ve been in talks with our logistics partner Kloosterboer about a possible move to the hypermodern Cool Port in the port of Rotterdam. It’s a promising development …

And when Storm and I are back from our walk over a real Dutch dike (he’s completely elated and I’m completely recharged), I’m ready once again for new international challenges, travels and developments, in the knowledge that the roots of our great family firm are firmly in the clay soil of OudBeijerland, a fantastic place to keep coming back to.

“ For us, a long-

term relationship like this is worth much more than a one-off deal ” 6

“ We’re aiming to grow

in both quality and in volume ”

Personal contact is the foundation of the way Schrijvershof works. Here Maarten Schrijvershof is visiting growers in Colombia.

The port of Cartagena in Colombia. This is where Colombian fruit begins its journey to the Netherlands.

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A textbook example of partnership 8

T H E R E I S N O FO R M U L A FO R M A K I N G A PA R T N E R S H I P A G U A R A N T E E D S U C C E S S , B U T I F T H E R E W E R E O N E , T H E R E L AT I O N S H I P B E T W E E N S C H R I J V E R S H O F A N D T H E S O U T H A F R I CA N C O M PA N Y D E O N A WO U L D C O M E V E R Y C LO S E . T H I S R E L AT I O N S H I P I S A T E X T B O O K E X A M P L E O F A LO N G - T E R M PA R T N E R S H I P A N D W H AT I T C A N Y I E L D .

Our first contact was seven years ago, when Schrijvershof was looking for a South African citrus grower. After a few lesssuccessful adventures in South Africa, Schrijvershof came into contact with Alex Kidson and his son Wouter, who grow for orange and grapefruit producer Deona.

Deona’s fruit was well known for its high quality, generous net box weight and higherthan-average Brix values. It speaks volumes that Deona’s fruit is prized for its flavour even by buyers in citrus-producing countries such as Spain. But there was more … Early on, there was a natural click between the Kidson and Schrijvershof families, a click best described as a shared passion for the product combined with an unusual degree of mutual trust and respect.

Alex and Wouter both have fruit growing in their blood. They work hard and with passion every day on the farm and in the packing

station, so it’s only right for them to take pride in their product. And this may hold the secret of this successful collaboration.

Schrijvershof understands and respects this ‘grower’s pride’. When you as a seller can market a good product, something the grower has lovingly tended for months, it requires care and dedication. After all, the grower is entrusting you with the end product of months of labour. That’s a huge responsibility.

One successful season doesn’t show the value of a relationship. The times when things aren’t going so well are when a long-lasting relationship proves its worth.

Citrus Black Spot (CBS) was one of those times. Particularly in 2013 and 2014, CBS caused a lot of anxiety and insecurity, in both South Africa and Europe. Extreme control measures put a great deal of pressure on logistical processes and the

relationship between the partners in the chain frequently came under fire. CBS also had enormous financial consequences, and investment plans were put on hold. Bonds are strengthened when you can get through a period like this together. 

“ It’s only right

for father and son to take pride in their product ”

The main road to the Deona citrus plantations in the north of South Africa.

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 The value of collaboration also shows up in solving more everyday problems. Deona has its headquarters in Letsitele, about 1000 kilometres from the port of Durban.

Because of the long journey over often bad roads, the fruit – in its cardboard boxes – didn’t always reach its final destination undamaged. In 2014, together with Deona, Schrijvershof started to look for a type of packaging that could stand up to this journey. And in 2015, the entire logistical route, from the packing station to the Dutch cold store, was brought under the control of a single logistical party. It means much better control of the cold chain and it also means that Deona and Schrijvershof don’t have to coordinate so much of the logistical process themselves. It allows Deona to focus on growing and packing the fruit, and Schrijvershof on selling it.

Spot, the development of the packing station had stagnated. And that was troubling, especially given their ambitions to be a high-level player in the European market. In late 2015 Alex and Wouter decided to build a new packing station. It is being built next to the old one and is completely new, from the ground up. The packing station will be equipped with a state-of-the-art packing line. And when it comes to sustainability, the new packing station is the perfect place for applying the latest energy conservation technologies and for improving labour conditions.

In recent years, Alex and Wouter Kidson have invested a lot in planting new trees.

The Deona acreage has more than doubled in the last few years, and besides oranges and grapefruits, they have also planted lemons. The young trees will gradually start producing, starting in the 2016 season.

However, partly because of Citrus Black Deona fruit is famous for its high quality and higher-than-average Brix values.

“ One good

season with the wind in your sails doesn’t show the value of a relationship ” 10

Schrijvershof is proud that Deona has chosen to continue working exclusively with us for world-wide sales of its fruit. It’s both tangible acknowledgement of the past years and proof of confidence for the future. With the new trees, a modern packing station and optimal control of the logistics, Deona and Schrijvershof are ready to grow and ready for the future!

“ After all, the grower

is entrusting the end product of months of labour to you ” 11

Explore our world ...

Morocco

Guatemala Colombia

Citrus

Peru

Grapes

Brazil

Exotics Melons Stone fruit Topfruit Vegetables

Go to www.schrijvershof.nl for our stock and daily fresh offers.

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Chile Argentina

OUR BRANDS

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South Africa, citrus

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Peru, citrus and exotics Colombia, exotics

The Netherlands

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Colombian Hass, a high-altitude Daleska avocado

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T H E W O R L D - W I D E F R U I T A N D V E G E TA B L E M A R K E T I S A D Y N A M I C O N E .

C O N S U M E R D E M A N D S C H A N G E , M A R K E T S A R E I N F L U X A N D I N N O VAT I O N S C O N T I N U A L LY C R E AT E N E W P E R S P E C T I V E S O N T H I N G S L I K E PA C K A G I N G , LO G I S T I C S A N D M A R K E T I N G . D E V E LO P M E N T S S U C H A S T H E R E A D Y - TO - E AT C O N C E P T H A V E E N S U R E D T H AT P R O D U C T S L I K E A V O C A D O S A R E Q U I C K LY BECOMING MORE POPULAR IN EUROPE. THESE ARE ALL GOOD REASONS FO R S C H R I J V E R S H O F TO M A K E N E W C O N TA CT S A N D S E E K O U T N E W GROWERS. IN NOVEMBER 2015, MAARTEN SCHRIJVERSHOF LEFT FOR TWO WEEKS IN CALI, COLOMBIA, TO GET TO KNOW AVOCADO GROWERS AND PA C K I N G S TAT I O N S I N O R D E R TO E X PA N D S C H R I J V E R S H O F ’ S N E T W O R K .

He received a warm welcome, and the Colombians were extremely forthcoming and cooperative during his entire stay.

During conversations it became clear that the truce between the FARC and the Colombian government has quieted things down and given people a feeling of safety.

This is reflected not only in the atmosphere on the streets, but in international trade as well.

Although the coffee and sugar-cane plantations in Colombia are huge, in between the fields of these two major commodities, a small but fast-growing product is making real inroads: the Hass Avocado. This is the reason why Maarten is here. He’s visiting the selected growers and packing stations who send Hass avocados to Rotterdam for Schrijvershof under the label Daleska.

This isn’t an easy task when you think that most growing areas are situated at over 1600 meters and in a mountainous region that is difficult to access. The fact that the fruit arrives in the Netherlands undamaged and in perfect condition commands respect

The avocado plantations in Colombia are at elevations of 1600 meters and higher, quite a logistical challenge.

for the efforts by both the growers and the transporters. The Colombian government is also promoting avocado exports by continually improving the infrastructure in growing areas.

In Colombia, farmers are united in cooperatives. The cooperative with which Schrijvershof works is currently an association of 25 growers. These farmers take their fruit to the packing station, where it is packed and prepared for export to Europe. The construction of more packing stations will considerably shorten the long distances that must now be travelled from the growing areas to the nearest packing station, and will also reduce the risk of loss of quality during transport.

The Colombian growers and packing stations are clearly aware of the opportunities offered by the European market, but also of the strict requirements it maintains. They have taken a lot of interest in the GlobalGAP certification and in European legislation and regulations. 

“ Avocados

are quickly becoming more popular in Europe ”

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 The last stop on Maarten’s journey through this lovely country is the port city of Cartagena. This city has an extensive tourist sector and a rich colonial past, and also is the place where the fruit begins the overseas journey to Europe. The port of Cartagena already has good facilities but here as well, they are continually working on modernising even more. The position of Cartagena (on the northern side of South America on the Caribbean Sea) means that the trip through the Panama Canal is not necessary. Shipments from here take a week less to get to Europe than those shipped from Peru or Chile.

Maarten returns to the Netherlands satisfied. Colombia, its growers and the port have made a lasting and good impression.

The Hass Avocado from Colombia is a fine addition to the Schrijvershof product range.

The growing season in Colombia perfectly fills the gaps between the seasons in Peru, South Africa, Mexico, Chile and Israel, and thus helps Schrijvershof achieve its ambition to provide avocados all year round.

The good relationship between Daleska and Schrijvershof, with Peru as a basis, is a good point of departure for a successful expansion of its operations in Colombia.

The avocados are picked carefully and lovingly. Despite all it has to go through, the fruit ultimately arrives in Europe undamaged.

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“ The growing season

in Colombia will help Schrijvershof achieve its ambition to provide avocados all year round �

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The quality of quality inspection 18

Y CONTROL & INTERNATIONAL CLAIM HANDLING

O V E R S E A S F R U I T I S A L I V I N G P R O D U CT T H AT O F T E N C O V E R S E N O R M O U S

arconistraat 33 3029 AG Rotterdam The Netherlands 244 14 15 survey@hdg.nl qc@hdg.nl international@hdg.nl | www.hdg.nl

D I S TA N C E S O N I T S WAY F R O M T H E G R O W E R TO T H E C O N S U M E R . TO ENSURE OPTIMAL QUALITY AFTER A LONG SEA VOYAGE, QUALITY INSPECTIONS ARE ESSENTIAL. THIS IS WHY SCHRIJVERSHOF HAS B R O U G H T I N A N I N D E P E N D E N T A N D E X T R E M E LY R E L I A B L E PA R T N E R F O R T H E I N S P E C T I O N S : H D G ( P R E V I O U S LY H A R M S E N & D E G R O O T ) .

‘Expertisebureau HDG B.V. the fruit consultants’ is a big name when it comes to quality inspections in the fruit and vegetable sector, both in and outside the Netherlands.

The company has been specialised in quality inspections of fruit and vegetables ever since its founding in 1981. HDG has Rotterdam as its home base, but also works out of its offices in Hamburg, Valencia and Shanghai. With a team of 42 employees and a world-wide network of partners, HDG can conduct quality inspections and surveys almost anywhere in the world.

For many years now, Schrijvershof and its network of shippers have used HDG to inspect overseas fruit after arrival in the port of Rotterdam. Of course, knowledge of and experience with the product is important when it comes to selecting a fruit inspection company, but it’s equally important that the surveyor is trusted by both the shipper and the receiver. The inspection must be impartial, after all, and often much depends on the surveyor’s judgement. At HDG, knowledge and integrity go together in a pleasant and professional way.

A quality inspection is conducted first to get an objective idea of the condition of the product. Next, the shipment is assessed to see if it meets the specifications agreed upon between the shipper and receiver.

For many, that’s all there is to it, but HDG also takes the next step, together with Schrijvershof. Although a general idea of the quality will arise over the course of the season, there can still be significant differences between varieties, individual growers or even different lots. Data

Working for Schrijvershof, surveyors from HDG are busy inspecting products world-wide.

collected during the season’s inspections can be analysed and any problems can be identified, as well as their causes. Based on their findings, Schrijvershof can give the right advice to the growers. In doing so, Schrijvershof is looking both back and, more importantly, ahead. After a season, the analysis is often easily forgotten. But it’s precisely this analysis that is the foundation for next season’s improvements. And that’s what Schrijvershof wants to work on, together with the grower.

The introduction of QC4U – HDG’s own inspection software, developed in-house – in 2015 was an enormous step forwards in the process of quality control. On-site inspection using a tablet with QC4U is faster and more efficient. Moreover, all the inspection data, both statistical information and images, are directly stored in the QC4U database. The QC4U platform is in the cloud, which makes it easy to use anywhere. The QC4U analysis tool gives detailed insights and transforms inspection data into valuable information.

QC4U also connects seamlessly to the digital information flows within a supply chain. This is not only effective but it also minimizes the likelihood of errors. QC4U distinguishes itself from other systems by the depth and wealth of information it can gather from a wide group of variables.

And this information is the foundation of a thorough and solid assessment of the lot.

The system allows HDG to work even more efficiently and effectively. As advanced and modern these systems may be, however, the surveyor’s knowledge and experience will always be the most important factors in conducting quality inspections. The long-

lasting relationship between Schrijvershof and HDG shows that HDG is not blindly putting its trust in technology alone. The excellence of HDG’s surveyors is still the basis of its lasting relationship with Schrijvershof.

“ At HDG,

knowledge and integrity go together in a pleasant and professional way ”

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Magical realism in South America

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BIENVENIDO A COLOMBIA – WELCOME TO COLOMBIA, THE COUNTRY O F M A G I C A L R E A L I S M . C O LO M B I A I S S I T U AT E D I N T H E N O R T H W E S T O F S O U T H A M E R I C A A N D I T I S T H E O N LY C O U N T R Y O F T H E S U B C O N T I N E N T W I T H C O A S T S AT T H E PA C I F I C A S W E L L A S AT T H E AT L A N T I C . H I S TO R Y L E F T C O L O M B I A A D I V E R S E H E R I TA G E O F C U LT U R E . T H R E E C U LT U R E S L E F T T H E I R FO OT P R I N T S T H R O U G H C E N T U R I E S : T H E N AT I V E S , T H E EUROPEAN AND THE AFRICAN.

The culture of the country is rich in terms of myths and stories – travelers discover something special wherever they go. That is why the list of sites that belong to the UNESCO world heritage is long – and they are all free to discover. In total, 15 masterpieces will cast a spell over travelers with their millennia old story. Among them are the landscape of coffee culture, archeological parks and some of the numerous festivities.

The perfect place to start discovering Colombia’s diversity is Bogotá.

The city has moderate temperatures due to the highlands. The well extended transport network converges in the capital city. From the airport, travelers can get to all the national territories. Anyone who is visiting the city for the first time experiences a modern, multicultural and multi-ethnical capital that goes along with international trends, arts, fashion, science and technology.

Bogotá offers all possibilities and comforts of modern life without losing traditions from colonial times, which are still visible in the historical city quarters. Those who love glamour should visit the museum of gold in the center of Bogotá – here everything sparkles.

At this marvelous place, visitors discover metallic pre-Spanish objects. Lovers of dance should not miss Cali, since the city is said to be the center of salsa itself. Tourists and “Caleños” are dancing in the streets until the early morning hours. Furthermore, Cali belongs to the important centers of economy and industry of the country and is the most important city in the southwest of Colombia when it comes to economy, industry and agriculture. The modern city is situated in a flat valley with fruitful soil. Its sugar cane plantations and fabrics were the basis for this positive developments. 

“ Tourists and

“Caleños” are dancing in the streets until the early morning hours ” Colombia has fairy-tale views and a wealth of flora and fauna.

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 Those who want to escape the hustle of the cities should get themselves on track of the world’s best coffee. The departments of Caldas, Quindío and Risaralda form the socalled coffee-triangle – where the world’s best coffee flourishes. To understand the secrets of the gourmet drink, one has to travel the region and experience the diverse climate and landscape oneself. It is the perfect place for long walks through the coffee plantations and discovering the secrets of Colombian coffee.

But not only coffee is an important product of export from Colombia. As a global supplier, Colombia provides fresh fruits and vegetable plants for European countries such as the Netherlands, Germany and France. The successful export of fruits is related to the good climate conditions and the nutritious soil in the Colombian cultivations areas.

The good climate conditions on 365 days a year affect the fruits quality. In Colombia, especially avocados ripen excellently: Climate and soil provide a profitable harvest.

Experts estimate that production could double in the next few years due to good conditions and demand.

Colombia’s fertile growing areas are at high altitudes, making the plantations often difficult to reach.

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Colombia’s most famous export product is, of course, coffee.

Cabo San Juan, on the Caribbean Sea and one of Colombia’s most splendid holiday destinations.

After this culinary excursion from coffee to exotically fruits, the journey continuous to the popular islands San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina: They offer around 40 places for diving, white sanded beaches and the sea in seven colors. Travelers from all over the world are coming to witness not only the perfect postcard view but also the beauty of nature. San Andrés provides long, white and sandy beaches, watersports of every kind and gentle island residents who offer their qualities as island guides. Providencia seduces visitors with evergreen mountains and the world’s biggest coral reef. Known as Old Province, it unites numerous places of unique beauty on 17 km² and it therefor evolved to an unmatched destination for ecotourism. A visit to Santa Catalina complements every journey. The silence is only interrupted by the sound of birds and the sea that breaks through the rocks.

There would be so much more to tell about the marvelous country of Colombia. There is so much to discover, to experience and to be amazed about. Best to grab a suitcase and experience the unique and diverse country oneself; Colombia is magical realism!

“ The culture of the country is rich

in terms of myths and stories – travelers discover something special wherever they go ”

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How threats become opportunities A LT H O U G H T H E N E T H E R L A N D S I S A S M A L L C O U N T R Y , I T ’ S FA M O U S T H E W O R L D O V E R F O R MANY THINGS, SUCH AS CHEESE, TULIPS, WOODEN SHOES AND THE CANALS OF AMSTERDAM. B U T T H E N E T H E R L A N D S I S P E R H A P S B E S T K N O W N FO R T H E R E L AT I O N S H I P O F I T S P E O P L E T O T H E W AT E R . W AT E R H A S N O T O N LY M A D E T H E N E T H E R L A N D S I N T O T H E C O U N T R Y I T I S T O D A Y – I T H A S A L S O M A D E T H E D U T C H T H E P E O P L E T H E Y A R E T O D A Y.

The Oosterschelde barrier consists of a total of three dams with floodgates. The longest dam is nearly 1.5 kilometres long, and contains a total of 31 of these hydraulic doors.

The Maeslant barrier

The Delta Works



The Delta Works consist of 14 enormous construction projects (and hundreds of smaller structures) that together form a system of defence to protect the Dutch from the sea. To ensure the greatest possible safety while minimizing damage to the fragile flora and fauna in the country’s coastal area, a range of solutions have been devised over the years. These solutions vary from storm-surge barriers and dams to flood catchment areas and semi-permeable dikes.

Construction of the Delta Works was begun in 1953, and in 1997, with the delivery of the final large project, the Maeslant barrier, the Delta Works was completed.

Along with the Oosterschelde barrier, the Maeslant barrier is the most famous part of the Delta Works.

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The Maeslant barrier; one of the 14 enormous construction projects that together form the Delta Works.

For centuries, water was the greatest enemy of the Dutch people. Until about 1000 AD, the area now known as the Netherlands was virtually unprotected from storms and spring floods, and large areas of the country were regularly inundated. Gradually people began to defend themselves against the rising water, with the most obvious solution being the construction of dams. The first dikes were made this way. They offered protection from the sea as well as from flooding from inland rivers. Much of the Netherlands is below sea level, and consequently the sometimes large amounts of spring snow that melt from higher lying areas of Europe cannot flow out to sea fast enough, which causes rivers to overflow their banks.

In the Middle Ages, as the Dutch acquired more expertise in building dikes, they discovered that it was also a way to acquire new land. One essential ingredient was another typically Dutch invention – the windmill. First a dike was made around an area that was under water, then mills were built on the dike which could pump the water out of the surrounded area. Once the water was gone there remained a piece of highly fertile land known in the Netherlands as a ‘polder’. 

“ Much of the Netherlands

is under sea level ” 25

 This way of reclaiming land was highly lucrative but not without its risks. An increasingly larger portion of the Netherlands’ land mass was coming under sea level.

On this new land people built houses, then villages and ultimately whole towns. For a long time everything was fine, but on 31 January 1953, things went badly wrong. That night the country was hit by one of the worst floods in its history. A heavy storm combined with a spring tide resulted in breaches in the sea dikes in dozens of places, flooding 200,000 hectares and killing nearly 2000 people. This disaster was a rude awakening for the Dutch, who were suddenly aware that they needed to develop a system of defence to protect the people from similar disasters in the future. An ambitious and innovative plan was devised, and construction began in 1953 and ended only in 1997: the Delta Works.

Today, the Delta Works ensure safety in the Netherlands, but it’s not only the ocean that is the threat posed by water. The climate is changing, rains are more frequent and harder, the water level of the rivers changes more extremely and faster than before, the sea level is rising … in short, we are living in an age in which it is important to have a policy around the water that offers both threats and opportunities.

During the flood of 1953 more than 4500 buildings and houses were destroyed.

The Maeslant barrier is an impressive part of the Delta Works. It consists of two doors each 22 metres high and 210 metres long. The barrier gates are 300 metres long, or the height of the Eiffel Tower.

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The Maeslant barrier

Maasvlakte 2 The writer Mark Twain once advised, ‘Buy land. They’re not making it anymore.’ But this is not completely true. The years of experience that the Dutch have acquired in reclaiming land and pumping up sand to create new land means that they don’t worry so much when the land surface is ‘used up’; they just make some new land. When the world-famous Rotterdam port could no longer expand any further, because all the land around the Meuse River had been developed, the decision was made to construct Maasvlakte 2, a new port area in the North Sea. By pumping up sand from under the ocean, 2,000 hectares of new land were created, enlarging the total Rotterdam port by 20% and moving the coastline of the Netherlands 3.5 kilometres farther out to sea. By making the ports here up to 20 meters deep, Rotterdam can now receive the very largest ships.

 Dikes and areas under sea level are a fixture on the Dutch landscape. The Dutch, however, are not insecure about living at a lower elevation than the sea. They are quite used to the idea.

“ Floating hotels

and even complete parks are being constructed ”

Maasvlakte 2

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Zeeland Bridge

At over 5 kilometres, the Zeeland Bridge was the longest bridge at completion in 1965. The bridge consists of 52 spans each 100 metres long.

For this reason, rivers in the Netherlands are allowed to overflow, in areas specially made suitable for the purpose. Since it rains more and more often now, but at the same time there is more and more paved surface in the Netherlands, the water is having a harder time flowing away. This requires developing new forms of drainage. The Dutch are trying to live in harmony with water, in such a way that they can benefit as much as possible from it, but that it never gets so close that it constitutes a threat. In the Netherlands this is called ‘water management’.

These are only a few examples of how the Dutch have learned to live with water and how they try to see opportunities instead of threats. It’s with good reason that the motto on the coat of arms of the province of Zeeland (the worst hit during the 1953 flood) is ‘Luctor et emergo’, or ‘I struggle and emerge’.

The war against water has greatly cost the Dutch, but it has also given them much.

Water management consists of researching, innovating and policy making. As a result of all this, in the Netherlands there are experimental hotels and complete parks floating on the water. To reduce auto traffic congestion in busy city centres, more and more water taxi companies are starting up, and Dutch publictransit agencies are starting ‘waterbus’ lines on city canals more often. Water treatment is done based on biological systems, and more and more cities have ‘waterpleinen’, public squares that can be used to catch water and turn into pools during heavy rains. The Delta Works are equipped with underwater turbines for generating energy from the tides and intensive research is being done on crops that do well on brackish soils.

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The flood of 1953

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Constructing islands in Dubai People all over the world know that the Dutch are good at beating water back from land. Unsurprisingly, Dutch dredging and construction companies are frequently called on for projects on or near the coast. One nice example of this are the recent construction projects in Dubai, where two Dutch construction companies (Boskalis and Van Oord) were taking the lead in creating the Palm Islands and the prestigious island project ‘The World’. The latter is the largest dredging project ever carried out in the world, and what’s more, the largest project ever taken on by one company. At the peak of operations, 16 suction hopper dredgers were being used to pump up a total of 3,000,000 cubic metres of sand per week.

“ The continuous

threat from the water has also given the Dutch a lot ” Jumeirah Palm Island, Dubai

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Our experts SCHRIJVERSHOF’S COMMERCIAL TEAM CONSISTS OF EXPERT BUYERS AND SELLERS. EVERY SINGLE D A Y T H E Y W O R K H A R D T O M AT C H S U P P LY , D E M A N D A N D I N T E R E S T S . Y O U A R E M O R E T H A N W E L C O M E T O C O N T A C T S C H R I J V E R S H O F. O U R P E O P L E W I L L B E D E L I G H T E D T O H E L P O U T.

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Henk Schrijvershof Our sales team is so customer-focussed that they can sometimes push our logistics to the limits. Let’s just say they’re doing their job… But in the end, I make sure their promises are met.  henk@schrijvershof.nl

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André Gielen I love fruit in the way some people love music or art.

That may sound a little bit odd, and I didn’t think it would happen this way, but fruit is my real passion.  a.gielen@schrijvershof.nl

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Peter Molendijk I work with my customers to find the right solution – that’s my goal, no matter what. Find your own way, and no one will be able to stop you!  p.molendijk@schrijvershof.nl

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Maarten Schrijvershof A good fruit grower loves what he does. You know that immediately when you see it, and then you know you’re in good hands. Those are the growers I want to work with!  maarten@schrijvershof.nl

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Willem Schrijvershof Schrijvershof is a team of people dedicated to fruit, who love their work. After all, taking pleasure in your work makes for perfection.  willem@schrijvershof.nl

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Piet Hoek I grew up in a horticultural family. When I was a schoolboy you’d find me in the orchards more often than at school. A lot has changed in this industry in recent years, but not my love for fruit!

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 p.hoek@schrijvershof.nl

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Ad Toet To me, everything always revolves around the customer and supplier. In everything you do, make sure you’re a reliable partner, and you’ll always stay on track.  a.toet@schrijvershof.nl

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Cool Port – The countdown has started …

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S C H R I J V E R S H O F I S G R O W I N G , N O T O N LY I N S A L E S A N D V O L U M E , BUT IN OUR AMBITIONS AS WELL, FOR QUALITY, FOOD SAFETY AND S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y. S I N C E I T S F O U N D I N G , S C H R I J V E R S H O F H A S H A D I T S OFFICES IN OUD-BEIJERLAND, A PRETTY TOWN IN THE COUNTRYSIDE N E A R R OT T E R DA M. T H I S I S T H E P L AC E W H E R E T H E C O M PA N Y, A N D T H E FA M I LY S C H R I J V E R S H O F I T S E L F H A V E T H E I R R O O T S . N E V E R T H E L E S S , OUD-BEIJERLAND IS NO LONGER THE PLACE WHERE SCHRIJVERSHOF T H I N K S I T C A N A C H I E V E I T S A M B I T I O N S FO R T H E F U T U R E . T H AT ’ S W H Y T H E C O M PA N Y H A S D E C I D E D TO F I N D A N E W B U S I N E S S LO C AT I O N , O N E WHERE SCHRIJVERSHOF IS READY FOR THE FUTURE.

When you’re faced with the decision to find a new company headquarters, you suddenly realize the unique opportunities this decision offers. You also realize that a choice like this is inseparable from a concrete view of the developments in the sector and in society.

The criteria that the new Schrijvershof headquarters have to meet are clear: it has to be the very best location for importing fruit from overseas, with optimal connections to the main logistics streams and with the lowest total logistics costs per pallet for the supply chain. After a thorough analysis of Schrijvershof’s incoming and outgoing logistics flows, two locations were finally chosen for consideration: Barendrecht/ Ridderkerk and Rotterdam. At that point, Schrijvershof’s planning for the new site really took off… Since 2014, Schrijvershof has

The world-wide evolution from conventional loading to reefer containers requires modifying the logistical infrastructure. The Rotterdam Cool Port is the sustainable answer to this development.

worked with Kloosterboer, a Dutch logistics specialist in refrigerated and deep-frozen food products. Since 2015 Kloosterboer has also taken care of the total logistical process for Schrijvershof’s South African import line, from the packing station in South Africa to the cold store in the Netherlands. It’s a working relationship that is not only highly valued by Schrijvershof, but also greatly appreciated by the growers and buyers. In the summer of 2015, Kloosterboer and the Port of Rotterdam Authority announced that the two parties had reached agreement on the construction of Cool Port.

Cool Port is the name of the project in the Rotterdam port which has been discussed by the government and private parties for years. Accordingly, Cool Port entails not

only the construction of a new cold store by Kloosterboer but the total redevelopment of the area around the Waalhaven/Eemhaven harbours in Rotterdam. There will be a container terminal, an empty depot for container equipment, a rail terminal and a connection to the A15 motorway. This gives Cool Port direct and multimodal connections to the deep-sea ports on the Maasvlakte, the surrounding Greenports and the European hinterland. 

“ Schrijvershof

has decided to find a new business location that is ready for the future ”

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 On comparison with several other locations, Cool Port turned out to offer the best opportunities by far, that fit in with how Schrijvershof sees its role in the overseas fruit supply chain of the future. For Schrijvershof, Cool Port is the logistical location, offering room to grow, but most of all offering us the opportunity to fully focus on our core operations: sourcing and sales, assuring quality and food safety, and making the supply chain more sustainable. This is why in January 2016, Schrijvershof and Kloosterboer signed the agreement that will result in all of Schrijvershof’s logistical activities moving to the new Cool Port location in Rotterdam in mid-2017.

The Cool Port site has unique advantages over the other locations. In the first place, Cool Port borders directly on the Eemhaven container terminal. Reefer containers can be transported from the deep-sea terminals on the Maasvlakte to Cool Port using a barge, without needing follow-up road transport. Other locations often are limited in successfully using multimodal transport by this follow-up transport. Accordingly, at Cool Port the transport of reefer containers over inland waterways genuinely costs less than road transport. Moreover, using a barge over inland waterways means less use of the road network, and it helps to lower CO2 emissions. In the second place, Cool Port is situated right on the A15 motorway,

the logistical artery connecting Greenport Westland and Greenport Barendrecht.

Thirdly, the rail terminal of RSC Rotterdam offers a direct rail connection, a transport mode that is still underutilised, but looks poised to gain in importance in the future. Cool Port moreover offers more than just cold storage of vegetables and fruit. Cool Port will also provide room for modern packing and sorting facilities. This eliminates unnecessary transfers between storage and packing locations, and increases the efficiency of Cool Port within the supply chain. The new Cool Port building meets all the requirements of the BREEAM-NL 3-star standard (‘very good’). BREEAM-NL is the quality certification for sustainability performance of new construction projects in the Netherlands. The use of mobile racking makes every pallet – of the 35,000 pallets that Cool Port can accommodate – directly accessible. This makes it possible to deliver each individual pallet exactly according to the customer’s wishes at any time, with no loss of efficiency. Cool Port’s standard long opening hours offer transporters the opportunity to avoid peak traffic hours. This makes the logistical processes in the supply chain more reliable, and makes better use of the capacity of transport equipment.

Schrijvershof is looking forward to the completion of Cool Port – the countdown has begun …

Cool Port is a multimodal logistics nerve centre equipped with a container terminal, an empty depot for container equipment, a rail terminal and a connection to the motorway.

“ Cool Port entails not only the construction of

a new cold store by Kloosterboer but the total redevelopment of the area around the Waalhaven / Eemhaven harbours in Rotterdam ”

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Centrally located in Europe, Cool Port offers a multimodal connection. Cargo transported by sea goes on through Cool Port to transport over inland waterways, rail, road and motorway.

“ On comparison with

several other locations, Cool Port turned out to offer the best opportunities by far �

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Team Schrijvershof

From left to right 1rst row: Henri Mourits (Logistics), Henk Schrijvershof (Logistics), Ad Toet (Commerce), Barend Hoek (Quality Control) 2nd row: Johan van Eeren (Logistics), Bartjan Beyer (Logistics), Martijn Villerius (Logistics), Jan Willem Mourits (Logistics),

Maarten Schrijvershof (Commerce), Alexander Schrijvershof (Finance), Willem Schrijvershof (Commerce), Piet Hoek (Commerce),

Peter Molendijk (Commerce), AndrĂŠ Gielen (Commerce), Leo Hempel (Finance), Koen van der Jagt (Quality Control)