The Research Station for Vegetable Production has more than 50 years of experience (°1963) in research on the cultivation of greenhouse and field vegetables. It is located at Sint-Katelijne- Waver, in the center of one of the most important production regions of fresh vegetables in Flanders (Belgium). It is a non-governmental and a non-profit organization.

Through its applied research, PSKW creates a link between the fundamental scientific research carried out at universities and the growers. The experience in field and semi-field trials and dissemination activities, combined with the close contact with growers guarantees innovation: the implementation of (best) practices and new technologies at the farms.

With a turnover of more than 400 million EUR or 600.000 ton of fruit and vegetables, the Auction of BelOrta is Europe’s largest co-operative fruit and vegetables auction. Almost 40% of all Belgian horticultural products traded via the auction system are sold in Sint-Katelijne-Waver. The more than 1,450 manufacturers provide an extensive selection of fruit and vegetables, locally grown and so deliciously fresh, that ranges from the traditional favourites to the most innovative cultivars and varieties. We start our technical tour with a visit to the sales hall with the auction clocks.

Peter Keustermans has a horticultural company specialised in the production of zucchini. He grows the zucchini in a tunnel greenhouse and in open field. In tunnel greenhouses, two rounds of 4000 zucchini plants are harvested from the beginning of May until the first frost. When planting, every zucchini plant is provided with a dome to protect against sunburn and night frost. When planting the second round, the planting hole of the previous plant is used. The full-field harvest of 3000 m² zucchini plants starts in early July. The cultivation soil is fertilised every two years with a homemade compost of zucchini foliage.

Eric and Lander Van Den Eynde switched recently from tomato to cucumber production in an 4 ha large greenhouse. They use the high wire system with artificial lighting with a light intensity of 180 micromol with classical SON-T light. They are actually testing different types of LED-lighting systems. Planting occurs three times a year: in June, September and January. Eric was one of the first growers to install a cogeneration unit for the production heat, CO2 and electricity, which is partially injected into the grid

Inagro represents over 60 years (°6) of hands-on tradition in agricultural research and education. What started of as a research station for industrial crops as flax and tobacco, grew over the years towards a modern institute studying a broad range of aspects linked to the agrocomplex. Located in Roeselare, Inagro find itselves in the heart of Europe's vegetable-processing industry. They conduct around 500 trials annually, off which several related to cucurbits. Main research topics are variety screening, optimising cultivation techniques and disease control in openfield zucchini cultivation and optimising cultivation techniques in protected zucchini and cucumber cultivation.

Nico Perneel grew up on the cucumber-farm of his father Michiel in Oostnieuwkerke, where cucumbers are grown for more than 40 years. His modern, 6 ha big greenhouse facilitates three cultivations in the low-wire system, resulting in more than 11 million fruits per year. Some processes like crop protection and sorting are automated, homogenising the results and reducing labor costs. The packing process is fully robotised. The plants grow on a perlite substrate which gets steamed and reused several times. Energy and CO2 are delivered by two co-generators of 2 MW each.

REO auction is around since 1942 and grew out to be the biggest growers co-operative in the region with an annual turnover of 180 million EUR. It sells over 100 types of fruits, vegetables and herbes in large volumes to retailers, exporters and wholesalers in Europa, North America and Asia. Zucchini and cucumber are both responsible for 5% of the turnover. A demonstration of how goods are sold and bought will give insight in the commercialisation on the fresh market.

Ardo annually grows and freezes 860.000 tonnes of fruit, vegetables and herbs and exports them to more than 100 countries worldwide. This makes them one of the biggest players in West-Flanders, a region responsible for over a quarter of the European production of frozen vegetables. Ardo also focusses on the valorisation of their waste water through a large hydrant network, providing irrigation water to neighbouring growers.

Wim Versavel and his wife run a typical West-Flemish company with a mixture of vegetables. They are specialised in zucchini and leek. The zucchini is cultivated in openfield (16 ha), under protection (plastic mini tunnels and plastic domes) (3 ha). Planting from half March until half August results in a production period from April 20th until the end of October in which all of their product is destined for the fresh market. The company is very flexible and tries to sell a big share of their zucchini's on foreign markets.  Covering the ridges with plastic is done by a contractor; the rest of the activities (placing domes, hoeing, interrow-fertilisation) is done with their own customized machines. To ensure a good pollination, honeybees are placed in the crop by their neighbour, which is a beekeeper.