4 November 2025 News
Year-round production, automation, and reliable varieties – these are the pillars on which Grower Laan builds his business. In this interview, Teun Laan shares his vision on cauliflower cultivation, the role of Enza Zaden varieties, and the importance of forward thinking. With growing locations in both the Netherlands and Spain, and his own sales organization, he has a deep understanding of market dynamics.
Laan cultivates cauliflower on over 550 hectares in Spain and a significant area in the Netherlands. This geographic spread allows him to supply customers in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and Portugal year-round. “We start in Spain around November and continue until June. In the Netherlands, we begin again in April. This ensures continuity in the supply chain.”
Labor is a recurring bottleneck. “Every year, it’s a challenge to keep people motivated,” says Laan. That’s why he invests in automation: from autonomous tractors to hoeing machines, and soon even a broccoli harvesting robot. “We need to take steps now. Otherwise, we’ll be too late.”
For Laan, the key traits in varieties are health, uniformity, and ease of harvesting. “A variety must stay fresh, even five days after harvest. And it must be easy to plan.” Oceanique and Twistique from Enza Zaden score highly on these aspects. “Oceanique has strong self-covering ability and produces a heavy, attractive head. Twistique is robust, uniform, and easy to harvest thanks to its sturdy plant structure – especially noticeable in Spain.”
Seasons are becoming increasingly unpredictable. “In the past, frost could occur as early as October, but that’s less certain now. However, extreme rain or heat is more common.” That’s why Laan opts for varieties that are stress-resistant and flexible in their growth cycle. “Oceanique and Twistique show strong resilience, even under changing conditions.”
Laan emphasizes the importance of working with partners like Enza Zaden. “We need good varieties for stable operations. The market is changing rapidly, and with AI and automation, new demands are emerging. You need to be able to adapt quickly.” He values the short lines of communication with Enza Zaden: “That helps develop varieties that truly fit our practice.”
The market is volatile, and consumer trends also play a role: “Smaller sizes are gaining ground, especially in the organic segment. But large cauliflower remains dominant.” Additionally, the demand for year-round availability is growing. By smartly distributing growing locations in the Netherlands and Spain, Laan can offer continuity to buyers in multiple countries. This increases pressure on planning and logistics but also creates opportunities for stable sales.
Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important theme in cultivation. Laan sees field adaptability as key to sustainable growing. “The range of crop protection products is shrinking fast. We need green alternatives, but also varieties with strong adaptability in the field. Oceanique and Twistique have those traits.” In the future, resistances may also play a role in strengthening sustainable cultivation strategies.
Grower Laan demonstrates that future-proof cultivation requires vision, innovation, and collaboration. With reliable varieties like Oceanique and Twistique, and an open mindset toward technology and sustainability, he is building a robust supply chain – from field to store.
Fokke Hoeksma
Enza Zaden
Tel: +31 (0) 228-350100
Email: f.hoeksma@enzazaden.nl
www.enzazaden.com
Teun Laan
Laan Vegetables
Email: teun@laanandijkbv.nl
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