23 June 2025
From this autumn onwards, Royal Pride will expand its range by growing mini and midi cucumbers, which will be marketed through Harvest House. This step safeguards the full cucumber range within the cooperative, following the decision by Wijnen Square Crops to discontinue production of these varieties.
Hans Derks, Commercial Director at Harvest House, says: “We are pleased that Royal Pride is continuing this line and wants to build further on the foundation laid by Wijnen. In this way, we maintain a complete range and continue to serve our partners optimally. Within our cooperative, we carefully coordinate who grows which products. This keeps our chain strong, agile and future‑proof. Royal Pride is a proven specialist, with the ability to consistently deliver the quality our customers expect.”
Logical expansion
Koert van den Ende, General Manager at Royal Pride, explains: “We have been growing standard cucumbers for many years. The introduction of mini and midi varieties is therefore a logical extension of our range. The midi variety, in particular, has been developed as a sustainable alternative to the traditional ‘portion’ cucumber on the UK market: a compact and efficient solution that fits perfectly with retail and consumer demand.”
This week, Royal Pride is inaugurating a brand‑new greenhouse equipped with the most advanced technologies to make cultivation as sustainable as possible. This expansion brings the company’s total area to 77 hectares, of which 40 hectares are now dedicated to cucumber cultivation. Despite its growth ambitions within cucumbers, Royal Pride in Middenmeer continues to grow cherry and cocktail tomatoes. It's a deliberate choice for diversification and quality.
