Modular tunnel route
Consider when weather protection, distributed production units and a defined seasonal window meet the buyer need.
Limit: Do not assume that cover alone prevents disease or extends the crop into every month.
Illustrative project scenario · Strawberry
Protected Strawberry Production Project Scenario
A commercial planning example for strawberry tunnels or greenhouses, covering variety, water, harvest labour, premium grade and cooling.
Discuss your projectScenario status
A planning example, not a delivered client case.
This scenario combines general greenhouse design and operating lessons. It is not a real DutchAgriTech installation. No client, location, area, yield, savings or sales result is claimed. Actual recommendations require a verified site, crop, buyer and project scope.
Starting situation
The commercial question comes first.
Imagine an operator moving part of a strawberry crop from open exposure to protected production. The aim is a more dependable premium fresh-market window, but plant material, picking labour, water quality and cooling have not been secured. A cover may reduce weather exposure, yet it cannot guarantee premium pack-out or a higher selling price.
The team checks the intended variety and plant type against the seasonal market opportunity and local climate. It compares a tunnel route with a more equipped greenhouse only after testing fruit quality requirements, pollination, humidity, irrigation and the volume that can be picked and cooled each day. Protection and control must be justified by the buyer window and operating capability.
- Crop
- Strawberry
- Decision
- Match production route to buyer, site and operator.
- Output
- A verifiable production brief and comparable scope options.
Controlled multi-span route
Consider where crop work, water, climate and access benefit from a connected professional layout.
Limit: Additional control brings maintenance, energy and concentrated production risk.
Phased protected area
Prove variety, marketable grade and labour rhythm in an initial phase before scaling.
Limit: The first phase still needs a complete irrigation and post-harvest route.
System decision
Plant material and crop method
Specify variety, propagation source, planting date, growing position, substrate or soil and pollination plan. The crop calendar should reflect local chill and temperature needs rather than a borrowed production curve.
System decision
Irrigation and drainage
Test source water before choosing dosing, filtration and storage. In a raised system, include drainage collection and disposal or reuse in the actual scope. Monitoring and a response to pump failure protect plant health.
System decision
Harvest and quality
Estimate pickers, grading, trays, movement and cooling against peak harvest, not annual averages. Revenue depends on the share sold at each grade and the week of sale. Fruit damaged before dispatch cannot be rescued by a high quoted market price.
Project sequence
What happens before a budget becomes useful?
The order matters: each decision narrows the next one. Keep unknowns visible rather than turning them into a precise-looking price or production claim.
- Confirm premium buyer grade and price window.
- Verify variety, plant material and seasonal climate fit.
- Test water and compare tunnel versus multi-span scope.
- Size picking, grading, cooling and transport for peak day.
- Model lower premium pack-out and a delayed harvest.
Evidence and downside
Test what could invalidate the plan.
If labour or cooling capacity is limited, adding growing area can lower the proportion of fruit reaching premium grade. If the buyer price is uncertain, use a conservative graded sales mix and test whether the protected system still makes sense.
A useful proposal specifies the crop and market window, the protected structure, water and growing system, and the complete harvest-to-cool workflow. It does not borrow another grower’s yield, scale or commercial results.
- 01
- Buyer grade, packaging and weekly demand
- 02
- Plant-material availability and variety plan
- 03
- Water analysis and irrigation capacity
- 04
- Harvest labour and cooling capacity
- 05
- Site loads, local works and weather risks
Continue from this example
Replace the scenario with your own project facts.
Read the crop guide and relevant system information, then collect the six inputs in our project checklist. A project-specific quotation follows only after site and responsibility boundaries are defined.