Internship Spinach Quality & Freshness
Internship Spinach Quality & Freshness
At KWS Vegetables, we work every day on strong varieties, healthy crops and sustainable solutions for the vegetable value chain. We do this with boots on the ground, fresh curiosity and true team spirit.
For the summer of 2026, we are looking for an intern who is eager to explore and improve the shelf life of spinach together with us. Spinach is a fresh product and that is exactly where the challenge lies.
During this internship, you will investigate which spinach varieties perform better in terms of shelf life, which factors influence freshness, and how this connects to processing practices and protocols. You will work with practical material from our trials and combine fieldwork, processing simulations and data analysis into concrete insights that directly add value to both breeding and business.
You will be part of the Customer Team Baby Spinach Europe / Oceania, working closely with colleagues from breeding, product management and sales. You will be guided by the Trial Development Specialist, who will support you in setting up, executing and reporting on your research.
Hungry for something Fresh?
At KWS Vegetables, you get the opportunity to work hands‑on on real‑life challenges around spinach. In this internship, you combine accurate research with collaboration across the value chain and actively contribute to more sustainable solutions.
Your responsibilities
Carrying out practical shelf‑life tests on multiple spinach varieties under different field, harvest and post‑harvest conditions
Sampling material from field trials and from trials with value chain partners
Comparing washed and unwashed products and simulating a processing workflow
Supporting the development and documentation of a washing and processing protocol (SOP)
Recording quality development through photos, assessments and notes in the digital product platform (Mercado)
Participating in external working groups with sales colleagues and value chain partners
Analysing results and translating them into a clear and practical research report
Why your talent will flourish at KWS Vegetables
A content‑driven, hands‑on internship at the heart of spinach breeding and processing
Learning to analyse the impact of factors such as variety, soil type, harvest timing, leaf size, cooling and washing effects
Contributing to better breeding decisions as well as concrete improvements for key value chain partners
Close collaboration with specialists within KWS and external partners in the fresh produce chain
An open, engaged working environment with a strong sense of team spirit
Your skills and background
You are enrolled in an MBO‑4 (vocational school) or Bachelor’s degree programme in plant sciences, agri & food, life sciences or a comparable field
You enjoy practical work and are curious about what happens after harvest
You can work independently, while actively seeking collaboration
Affinity with fresh products, quality and data is a plus
You hold a driver’s licence (B) and are available between May and September 2026
Join the team!
Are you ready to get started as Intern Spinach Quality & Freshness? Apply now and join our Vegetable Squad!
For more information about this internship, please contact René van Meijel, Global Customer Team Lead Spinach, via +31 6 82055041 or rene.meijel@kws.com.
