About Torup Bakkegård & Orelund
A family-run business on West Funen — led by brothers Jacob and Claus Brejnholt Jacobsen.
The story
It all started with 4 hectares of asparagus
In 1963, Dorthe and H.B. Jacobsen bought Torup Bakkegård — having just returned home after 10 years in Africa. They started growing asparagus on four hectares, and with her farm-gate sales Dorthe planted the seed of what is today a well-known and much-visited farm shop.
Sons Jacob and Claus Brejnholt Jacobsen grew up with the growing and selling of vegetables. Jacob took over Torup Bakkegård in 2002, and Claus bought Orelund in 1994. In 2007 the two farms were merged into the current joint operation — a combination of open-field vegetable growing and arable farming.
Both brothers grew up at Torup Bakkegård together with their two sisters, Pia and Helle. H.B. Jacobsen was a trained fruit grower, but was also very involved in growing, trialling and trading a wide range of vegetables — among other things, carrots and beetroot were exported on a large scale to several European and Nordic countries. In 1970 he also bought Orelund.
The farms
Two farms — one joint operation
Torup Bakkegård — Jacob Brejnholt Jacobsen
Jacob Brejnholt Jacobsen is a trained nursery gardener who has specialised in vegetables. He is mainly responsible for all sales and marketing of fruit and vegetables. Jacob lives at Torup Bakkegård, which he took over from his parents in 2002. The farm lies right on the main road between Assens and Middelfart, and in recent years several very large halls have been built here, housing state-of-the-art cold stores, packing halls and washing facilities. The administration and office staff are also based at Torup Bakkegård.
Orelund — Claus Brejnholt Jacobsen
Claus Brejnholt Jacobsen is a trained farmer with a keen interest in specialty crops and is responsible for crop production. He has more than 20 years of experience as an onion grower. Claus bought Orelund from his parents in 1994. The farm lies north of Sandager, close to Torup Bakkegård, with a stunning view over Sandager Næs and the Little Belt. Some of the original farm buildings did not survive the hurricane of 1999, so the farm was rebuilt in 2000 with large, new farm buildings — including a large onion drying facility. Orelund is the base for the arable farming, with machine hall, workshop and staff facilities, and it is also home to a stud farm with Icelandic horses.
Production
Asparagus, strawberries, cabbage, onions and much more
Half of the land is used for fruit and vegetable crops, while the rest grows grain and seed grass — a varied and healthy crop rotation is essential for most vegetables, and vegetables in turn are good preceding crops for grain. We produce asparagus, strawberries, potatoes, cabbage, onions, lettuce, peas and sweetcorn, with asparagus, strawberries, cabbage, onions and lettuce grown in several varieties. For several years peas have been the largest crop, while onions used to take up the most hectares — and around 10% of all Danish onions are produced by Torup Bakkegård and Orelund.
Torup Bakkegård is the heart of the business: this is where the vegetables arrive, are processed, packed and collected for customers in state-of-the-art cold stores, packing halls and washing facilities. High season starts with asparagus in spring and ends with cabbage in autumn. When the weather no longer allows it, we import from producers in Southern Europe and elsewhere during winter, so we can deliver fresh produce all year round.
In recent years we have worked closely with Harald Kirketerp-Møller of Sandholt Gods, to which most of the arable farming is now linked. Sandholt's land is very well suited to vegetable production, and the partnership brings excellent synergies for both parties. Most of our land has good irrigation options — a necessity in vegetable production. Our production is mainly conventional, and we practise good husbandry with respect and care for the nature we manage.
The people
Employees all year round
Torup Bakkegård and Orelund employs people all year round. Different harvest times in farming and vegetable production, plus imports in winter, mean we can employ people over a long period. The vast majority of our vegetables are hand-cut or hand-picked, and all vegetables are prepared and packed in our own packing hall at Torup Bakkegård — so in high season several hundred people are involved in production.
Most of our high-season workers come from abroad — mainly from Slovakia and Romania. They live close to the strawberry and asparagus fields in modern, new mobile homes, four people per unit sharing kitchen and bathroom. Together the homes form a small village where, after work, there is plenty of room for socialising, parties, volleyball and football — and with fibre internet it is easy to stay in touch with home and the wider world.
Customers
In almost every Danish grocery store
Our customers include major retail chains, local shops, small wholesalers and private customers, and we sell all our products ourselves. There is also strong demand from restaurants and caterers. We are often asked where our vegetables are sold — the answer: in almost every Danish grocery store.
- Independent retail chains
- Meny, Spar, Løvbjerg, ABC Lavpris and Rema 1000
- Salling Group
- Bilka, Føtex, Netto and Salling
- Coop stores
- SuperBrugsen, Kvickly, Fakta, Dagli'Brugsen and LokalBrugsen
- Others
- Lidl
Look for our logo — it is a guarantee of quality.
Some retail chains choose to have the products packed under their own private label.
Gallery
Life on the farm
Certificates
Responsibility is part of everyday life
Responsibility is a natural part of everyday life for us. We grow both organic and conventional vegetables with the same care and dedication — and we know it takes more than good craftsmanship. As a producer we are subject to a wide range of requirements and regulations, and every day we spend resources making sure we live up to them — and preferably a little more.
Our production is under continuous supervision by the Danish Agricultural Agency, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency and the Danish Working Environment Authority. In addition, we have been Global GAP certified for more than 10 years. Global GAP stands for Global Good Agricultural Practice, and the certification covers our entire value chain — from growing and handling vegetables to the health and safety of our employees. The standard helps ensure transparency and trust all the way.
We go a step further with GRASP (Risk Assessment on Social Practice) — an add-on to Global GAP focused on decent conditions, well-being and a good working environment for everyone on our team. Responsibility is not a destination — it is a process, and every day we work to be better than yesterday.