Erik Lanser

Lanser Champignonkwekerij

Hi, my name is Erik Lanser and we grow a variety of different organic mushrooms here in Zwaanshoek in the Noord Holland province.

Mushrooms grow very well in the dark and that is why we grow them in special cells with the light off… which saves energy ! Many people think that we grow mushrooms in the dark so that they keep their wonderful white colour but that’s not the case .. light is not important .. that’s all. The mushrooms grow on a bed of organic compost made of straw, manure and a natural plaster. On top of this compost a layer of soil is added. The compost also contains mushroom spores which in Dutch we call “broed”. After about one week the mushrooms start to grow. One week later we can start picking. All the picking is done by hand and is spread out over three different flights. During each of these flights we pick the mushrooms that have the right size and quality. The fresh picked product goes into the special mushroom trays, are cooled and are then shipped to our customers. That is why you get such a wonderful fresh product !

Interview with Erik Lanser, organic mushroom grower

N&M: Erik, can you tell us something about the history of your business?
Erik: “Champignonkwekerij Lanser was set up by my father in the early eighties. In 1994 I took over and three years later switched to organic production. My religious roots and beliefs tell me to take care of the earth upon which we live and organic agriculture for me is the best guarantee for a clean world and healthy products”.

N&M: What makes Champignonkwekerij Lanser so special?
Erik: “Love and attention! We are not very large and are proud that we supply high quality, delicious products. Mushrooms are popular not only because of their unique taste but also because they are very nutritious. They are therefore ideal for thousands of different dishes and fit into every possible diet.
The reason why customers particularly love organic mushrooms is because they have a stronger taste and a firmer structure. This is because in organic production less water is being used. Furthermore, organic growers refrain from using chloride in the water and that is one of the reasons why the taste is so pure.

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soil

The raw materials that are used in our mushroom compost are natural components. When the mushrooms have been harvested the compost is collected and recycled by organic vegetable growers and so nothing is lost.

biodiversity

It is a general principle of organic farming that every living organism should be held in high regard: from the tiniest micro-organism living in the soil to the mightiest tree towering above it. For this reason, every link in the organic food supply chain is geared towards maintaining and, wherever possible, increasing the diversity of plants and animals. Practices that contribute to high levels of biodiversity are often the result of good farming practice, as well as of the EU organic farming Regulation.

Organic agriculture means working with nature and not trying to fight or manipulate it. That is why organic rules prohibit the use of GMO’s.

society

We are a small company and employ two persons. Furthermore we collaborate with an organization that helps people with a handicap to find work. Consequently, we are currently working with a number of “help farmers” who a very enthusiastic and work very hard. Obviously, it takes a little more time and energy to train them but the fact that we can offer them a meaningful day means a lot to us.

Every week we donate mushrooms to the local foodbank (for people who cannot afford to buy their own food). We believe it is important that they also eat healthy, nutritious products and that is why we have been involved with this local project for many years.

The Dutch law on work safety are very strict. Working organically means that we avoid a lot of risks for our employees.

climate

Mushrooms are grow very well in the dark and that is why we grow them in special cells with the light off… which saves energy ! Many people think that we grow mushrooms in the dark so that they keep their wonderful white colour but that’s not the case .. light is not important .. that’s all.

Organic mushroom growing is a natural, pure form of agriculture whereby chemical and CO2 emissions (through the production of artificial fertilizers) are non existent

water

Although water is used for mushroom production, the fact that we do not use chemical pesticides, chloride or artificial fertilizers means that the runoff water is environmentally safe.

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