History

1955-1970
The brothers Jan and Arie van der Plas were running their father’s carpentry company. The company was called T. van der Plas and was located in Broek op Langedijk. In 1960 they were requested to draw a plan for a mushroom farm. They took up the challenge and decided to begin a mushroom farm themselves in St Pancras.

At the end of the 1960s the demand for Dutch mushrooms was falling due to cheap imports from France. T. van der Plas responded attentively to the situation and searched for a good alternative. In the mid 1970s the company switched over to the cultivation of bean sprouts, a new product in the Netherlands.

The brothers performed a great deal of pioneering work. In the beginning they cultivated around 2500 kg per week. They developed new cultivation methods and techniques and production continued to grow.

Following his brother’s decease, Arie van der Plas had to carry on alone. Together with his son Theo he embarked once again on new paths. A new vegetable sprout line was added: alfalfa. The nursery expanded. Bean sprout production had in the meantime grown to around 60,000 kg per week.

End of the 1980s
The tone was set: the transition from a bean sprout nursery to a vegetable sprout nursery was under way. In addition to bean sprouts, Van der Plas grew 4 new types of vegetable sprouts: alfalfa sprouts, radish sprouts, sprout mix en leek sprouts...

1990
Arie retired and Theo van der Plas took over the business and steadily expanded the number of vegetable sprouts. Interest throughout the country increased and awareness and appreciation of sprouts grew thanks in part to the culinary press and enthusiastic chefs.

1999
The company moved to a custom-designed nursery in Broek op Langedijk.

2005
The total area was expanded to 8000 m2 by the purchase of the adjoining premises, a former furniture factory.

2008
The company continues to grow. Various
departments within the company have expanded.
The cultivation area has grown in terms of square
metres and the packing area has doubled in size.
The premises now cover around 1 hectare.