The asparagus season is running at full speed. And while many nurseries require many hands to pick asparagus, this is a thing of the past at the nursery of Erik Weiland from Zuidwolde. A globally unique asparagus cutting machine comes to the rescue. And that is not only useful, but even necessary.
Because last year part of Weiland’s asparagus harvest was lost. No staff can be found to extract the white gold from the ground. The need was so great that the grower even considered pulling the plug on his company. But those times are over. “It was more or less born out of necessity. This machine replaces about five employees.”
This device is also not bound by the Working Hours Act, and there is no question of physical exhaustion. “This thing burns about 24 hours a day, if necessary. It also has lighting. He doesn’t have any back problems. It also burns good quality.”
The machine is unique in the world. “There are two of this type in the world.” One of the two in Zuidwolde. “When I see the machine driving across the country, I am very proud of it.”
The machine detects where asparagus is underground and then lifts it up. This way, they can be picked up by an employee without any effort. It can collect up to 120 kilos of asparagus per hour, instead of 25 kilos by hand. This project is supported by the municipality and province. They could put it to good use, because the machine costs 2.5 tons.
And do they still taste just as good? “Yes, that doesn’t change anything. Whether they are cut by machine or by hand, it is exactly the same,” says Rudi Hooch Antink, councilor of the municipality of De Wolden.
