From Roots to Data: The Breugem Horticulture Story

Recently, we had the pleasure of visiting Breugem Horticulture, a family-run business in the Netherlands. Located in Bleiswijk, Breugem specializes in growing loose salad tomatoes for retail and food service. The company’s roots go back to the 1920s, with Breugem Horticulture standing as a testament to resilience, dedication, and adaptability. By staying curious, the team quickly embraces new technologies, especially in data-driven crop management—an approach that truly sets them apart in a highly competitive field.

At Breugem Horticulture, being a family business isn’t just part of their identity; it’s at the core of their values. The company, started by Sebastian Breugem’s grandfather, has evolved over three generations, adapting through various changes—from traditional soil farming to advanced, rock wool-based methods.

This dedication to their legacy shines through in their focus on quality and sustainable innovation. The values of adaptability, quality, and teamwork are fundamental to the Breugem team, connecting everyone, from crop managers to those in packaging. This family-based structure allows the business to respond to changes quickly, ensuring high-quality produce while keeping environmental responsibility in mind.

Breugem’s Unique Approach to Horticulture

What makes Breugem Horticulture particularly successful? It’s their balanced approach to integrating new technology while remaining true to their roots. In an age where data is abundant, Breugem Horticulture doesn’t just collect data for its own sake—they prioritize precision and quality, using only what’s most relevant to optimize crop yield. Their commitment to innovation has led them to adopt technology like robotization and data-focused growth strategies, enhancing efficiency throughout the business.

Collaboration and Future Growth

A significant part of Breugem Horticulture’s growth journey has been its collaboration with Source.ag. This partnership has provided practical support, making data management simpler by consolidating key insights like climate conditions, humidity levels, and plant-specific data onto a single platform. With this information at their fingertips, the team can make well-informed decisions on current and future crop strategies.

Over the past year, Breugem has found value in the onboarding process, training, and ongoing support that Source.ag has provided. These resources have helped them use data more effectively in their growing processes, allowing for continued practice refinement.

Ambitions for Future Growth

Breugem Horticulture’s future vision is clear: adapt, grow, and innovate in ways that remain sustainable. With Source.ag’s tools and a strong commitment to environmental responsibility, Breugem hopes to meet and exceed customer expectations while maintaining a small environmental footprint. They aim to embrace sustainable practices through a high-tech greenhouse system that supports the production of healthy, safe food.

Final Thoughts: A Shared Path Forward

The partnership with Source.ag marks an important step in Breugem Horticulture’s journey. Source.ag provides tools and resources that support Breugem’s operational efficiency without changing its core values or approach. Instead, Source.ag’s technology complements their methods, supplying reliable data to assist in everyday decision-making.

Together, Breugem Horticulture and Source.ag showcase how family-driven businesses can successfully incorporate the right technology to enhance their unique vision. Even in an industry that increasingly relies on technology, Breugem Horticulture demonstrates that family values and tradition can continue to play a central role, blending innovation with heritage.