Genossenschaft der Ökobauern eG Celebrates 30th Anniversary with New Warehouse and Production Hall
The Genossenschaft der Ökobauern eG (Organic Farmers’ Cooperative) is celebrating its 30th anniversary with the grand opening of a new warehouse and production hall in Lippborg, located in the Soest district. This milestone marks a significant advancement in the cooperative’s development, establishing it as one of Germany’s largest organic vegetable and potato producer organisations.
“The new warehouse and production hall is not only an indicator of growth, but also a visible sign of the innovative strength and performance that characterises our cooperative, including its organic farmers. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, it will significantly optimise production and increase capacity. This step is part of our ongoing commitment to providing first-class products and services for our customers,” stated Axel Altenweger, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, in his welcoming address.
Attractive Marketing Basis
Silke Gorißen, Minister for Agriculture and Consumer Protection of North Rhine-Westphalia, highlighted the cooperative’s contributions: “For 30 years, the organic farmers’ cooperative has stood for 100 per cent organic production, processing, and marketing. I would like to congratulate them on this. The further development of organic farming in North Rhine-Westphalia requires precisely this kind of commitment. The cooperative is helping to secure and increase the production of organic food in North Rhine-Westphalia and to create an attractive marketing basis together with the farmers.”
The state supported the warehouse project with up to 551,000 euros from the EAFRD programme. The total investment volume for the warehouse and production hall is around 8 million euros. Matthias Lürbke, Mayor of Lippetal, expressed his satisfaction with the cooperative’s growth: “The organic farmers’ cooperative has developed and expanded very successfully in recent years. I am delighted that the organic farmers are focusing on Lippetal as a location for the future and are producing and marketing the increasingly popular regional products here locally in an organic and sustainable manner.”
Advanced Facility for Optimal Production
The new facility boasts approximately 3,000 square meters of floor space dedicated to the storage, washing, and sorting of organic potatoes and onions. These products are processed according to customer specifications and packaged accordingly. The cooperative sources 80% of its produce from North Rhine-Westphalia and the south of Lower Saxony, with the remaining 20% coming from other parts of Germany and, depending on the season, from the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Italy, and Spain. Additionally, regional farms within a 20-kilometer radius contribute to the supply.
The opening ceremony featured welcoming speeches, guided tours of the new building, and ample opportunities for discussions and networking among the guests.
