Healthy vegetables through your mailbox

During the first wave, the corona crisis certainly brought forth a lot of creative ideas among entrepreneurs, but even a year later we are still seeing unusual concepts emerge. On a dull Saturday evening in January, Giel and Maud from Meterik came up with Vegetable Mail: eight mini-plants in a folding greenhouse sent as a letterbox package. The mission? To create a little more health.

Uniting forces

Giel Janssen studied at the HAS and now works as a cultivation specialist at Gipmans plants in Venlo. He knows everything about raising a plant. Maud Willems works as an HR consultant at an engineering firm and knows better than anyone how connecting with (home) employees and vitality is important for employers. Based on their individual expertise, they came up with Groentepost, a hip product that can be used to enthuse private individuals, but also the business market. Three days after the brainstorming session on 16 January, the idea had already become an official partnership, followed by a website, plenty of media attention and the first five hundred orders.

This is how it works

The seeds of cherry tomatoes, snack cucumbers and hot peppers are grown into small plants in a section of Gipmans' greenhouse. This preparation under ideal conditions makes it easier for the customer to actually grow the plant later on. After three to four weeks they are ready for shipment. They survive the journey to their owner, provided the owner opens the package in time. With the enclosed instructions, the buyer can get started: make potting soil with the coconut swelling tablet, find a good spot for the greenhouse and make sure there is enough water. Then you can wait for your first harvest!

Socially responsible

Giel and Maud want to create a little more health with their Groentepost. They do this not only by the healthy vegetables in the packages, but also by focusing on sustainability. The green mailbox packaging consists of 100% recycled PET and the paper and cardboard used are also recyclable. The coconut swirl tablet consists of coconut husks and is 100% natural and environmentally friendly. The supplier they chose for this product invests in local projects where it is produced. The water used at Gipmans is completely reused and the plants are not sprayed with pesticides. What's more, the couple has linked a good cause to the sale of Groentepost: 50 cents from each package sold goes to KidzBase, a foundation that takes care of children placed out of home.

Do you want to know more? Visit Groentepost.com