BBQ pumpkin slices added to the range

De Terp Squashpackers, too, is entirely convinced that convenience products add value. "With cubes for soup and slices for the oven or barbecue, we're ready to offer consumers that little bit of convenience in the pumpkin segment. Fresh pumpkin sales remain fairly stable, but there's room for improvement in the convenience segment," says Rinke Robbers of this Dutch organic pumpkin grower and processor.

After the company lost four warehouses and a house to a fire in 2022, De Terp quickly recovered and invested in a new building, which included a processing area. "We were already supplying half deseeded pumpkins. Now we're also fully focused on cubes and slices, in both small packaging for retail customers and bulk for the hospitality industry and vegetable processors."

"Most supermarkets want the soup cubes in 400g bags. Those last for nine days post-production, even without additives. The bags are made of (pre-printed) monofoil, and they and the label are recyclable. We also market our own sliced and cubed pumpkins brand, which we can offer under private label," explains Rinke.

The variety chosen is vital for a flavorful, high-quality product, which is why this company works exclusively with Flexi Kuri F1. "It's the top variety in the pumpkin world. Fellow growers in the northern and southern hemispheres cultivate it, too. With our contract growers' supply and the right selection of pumpkins, we can process about 700 kilos of net product per hour, year-round."

According to Rinke, winter squash has gained about double its flesh in ten years, thanks to breeding. "It has less core and more flesh. That's pure profit," he says. "Most of the labor in our processing area is done hollowing out the pumpkins. The rest of the work is almost completely automated." As a high-quality product, De Terp's orange pumpkins have to compete with the so-called kilo bargains, particularly squash and butternut squash. These have higher average yields in the field but, says Rinke, do not taste as good as winter squash.© De Terp Squashpackers

Switching to imports
The company is currently very busy with imports. "The South African product is coming in well, and there's enough available. That country's climate is very suitable for growing pumpkins, but we must be careful with the heat; it can cause sunburn," Rinke points out. "New Zealand is another major player, but their cost prices are high."

"Argentina and Egypt tend to produce lower-quality products with shorter shelf lives. They also don't achieve the level of flavor we're after. That has a lot to do with those countries' predominantly hot, dry growing conditions. From the Mediterranean, we get pumpkins from Spain. Morocco has traditionally been more focused on France," Rinke concludes.

For more information:
De Terp Squash Only
Tel: +31 (0)6 22324470
rinke@deterpsquashpackers.nl
www.deterpsquashpackers.nl