This winter, the lights are, once again, blazing in Belgian and Dutch cucumber greenhouses. Stabler energy prices and using energy-efficient LED lighting means growers and buyers have reached agreements more quickly. Although lit cultivation remains costly, trading partners and supermarket demand ensure profitable production. Product certainty and the need for local, fresh produce play vital roles here.

Early lit production
The first cucumber, grown under lights, hit the market in early November. QCumber and BelOrta were the first to launch these in the Netherlands and Belgium. A BelOrta grower doubled his acreage to 2.2 hectares, with sales guaranteed by a retailer. In the Netherlands, Oxin Growers sees a similar development: eight of their 27 cucumber growers are using lights this season, which amounts to 26 hectares. At The Greenery, also in the Netherlands, acreage was also expanded through the use of LED lighting and favorable energy rates.

Though lit cultivation remains a costly investment, making deals with trading partners and the demand for fresh, local produce makes for a profitable crop. The Greenery's Harm-Jan Eikelenboom points out that prices were high this year, giving growers the confidence to produce, even in winter. From January 2025, more lit cultivation will start at BelOrta, on 12+ hectares.

Balancing sustainability and profitability
Growing cucumbers under lights is proving economically viable. The profitable price for smaller cucumbers is between €0.55 and €0.60 apiece, with the larger sizes fetching about €0.75. There is also an increasing focus on sustainability. Ruud den Boer of Oxin Growers points to the switch to LED lighting and data-driven cultivation contributing to a lower environmental impact. The goal is to present a clear sustainability footprint per product by the end of 2025. Growers can use that to communicate their environmental performance.

The effect of Spain's severe weather
The recent severe weather in Spain - a crucial cucumber exporter - caused considerable damage, directly impacting the European market. Especially in November, Dutch growers benefited from the reduced Spanish production. That will, however, not be the case for growers starting in January since the Spanish crop is expected to be largely recovered by then. Still, the situation underscores the importance of local production and product security.

Future prospects
Dutch lit cucumber cultivation has developed positively in recent years. The product certainty trend and supermarkets' willingness to buy locally reinforce that. As BelOrta's Maarten Verhaegen points out, crops grown under lights compete with imported products. "It often costs €0.45 to just get Spanish cucumbers here," he says. "Their price, then, differs little from local crops grown under lights."

Still, the future of lit cucumber cultivation depends on several factors. Energy prices must remain stable, and a good cultivation/marketing balance is essential. For now, though, growers and traders are optimistic. "I'm sure there is a future in growing cucumbers under lights," says Maarten. Given the current focus on sustainability, efficiency, and product security, it seems Dutch lit cucumber cultivation will have a critical continued role in winter production. Both growers and buyers look forward to a new season brimming with fresh, local cucumbers.

TrendForce 2024 Global LED Lighting Market Analysis
Release Date: 01 February 2024 / 31 July 2024
Language: Traditional Chinese / English
Format: PDF and Excel
Page: 90-100 / Semi-Annual