Family Van Hauteghem

Surface

2 ha

Location

Zwijndrecht

Active since

2000

Products

About Family Van Hauteghem

Organic farming, with experience passed down from home

Vitaetom is an organic greenhouse horticulture company based in Zwijndrecht. The company builds on experience that has been passed down through generations. In the 1950s, Maurice Van Hauteghem, Walter’s father, started growing strawberries in open fields. Walter joined the company in 1973, and in 1989 they switched to tomato cultivation. Their son Koen joined in 1997. In 2000, Vitaetom was founded. Their daughter Annelies has also been active in the family business since 2007.

Today, Vitaetom has grown into a modern organic greenhouse horticulture company. In 2024, this commitment was even recognized with the BioVLAM Award.

Fresh organic greenhouse vegetables, from spring to autumn

The season starts early. By the end of February, the first cucumbers are usually already available. From mid to late March, tomatoes and peppers follow. The season continues until around mid-November.

At the end of 2016, the company faced an important decision: to invest, innovate, and expand in order to continue serving the conventional market, or to take a different path. They deliberately chose organic farming, not for mass production, but for a way of working that better aligns with their vision for the future.

Today, they are very proud of that choice, as they have taken on a pioneering role in organic farming.

Among the greenery

For Koen, the most rewarding part of the job is being close to the plants.

“The best part is being among the greenery. You see a plant grow and can then harvest a flavorful product. That brings a lot of satisfaction.”

Organic farming requires a great deal of attention. The biggest challenge is keeping the plants healthy. Making corrections is not always easy, as there are few available resources. That is why everything starts with a strong, healthy crop from the very beginning. They work with beneficial fungi, bacteria, and biological pest controllers, among other things. This helps them maintain balance in the greenhouse as effectively as possible.

Looking to the future

In the future, they would like to expand by another hectare, as they notice that demand for organic products continues to grow.

Did you know… that Vitaetom exclusively grows the Tatayoyo pepper for the Benelux region? It is an organically grown orange bell pepper with a distinctive tropical flavor.