Sofie Lambrecht (VLAM) and Tony Derwael (Bel'Export). An image from the new campaign: "Taste of Europe" in the background
"We've been working on getting the Conference pears in here for around two years, and it has been a little delayed. Hopefully the market will open quickly and when this happens we expect this to become a top product in Canada. The most important vegetables heading here at the moment are chicory, leek, tomatoes and peppers, but we're now awaiting the moment that pears will be permitted. We think that it will start around the end of 2013. If all is well, the breakthrough will be in the Autumn."
The full Belgian team. Click here to enlarge
Top fruit exporter Tony Derwael of Bel'Export says: "The Canadian can only meet 30% of their needs, for pears as well as apples. They are a little further in new apple varieties than we are. Especially sweet varieties such as Gala, Ambrosia and Fuji are favourites here. A lot of Junami is also planted. The Golden and Granny come from Washington, and have the advantage of the shorter distance here."
"Pears are a completely different matter, they hardly make it to Christmas here with the Canadian pears, once again supplemented by Washington. The variety here is poor, they have to do with William, Anjou and later on Packham from Argentina, so there is certainly a market for a better pear. We are looking forward to the moment that the Conference is on the shelves here. We have a real ace in our hands with the Conference pear, and there is potential in the Canadian market. It is a pear with good exporting possibilities. The Conference can be stored all year round, and the flavour will still be good. Since we have been able to treat the pears with 'Bio Fresh' during sorting we have been able to double the Conference's shelf life. This is an important trump card, especially for the export far away later in the season. The agent was developed based on an organic glucose solution which is applied during sorting by placing a thin film over the pear. This causes it to absorb less oxygen, which benefits the hardness and the shelf life. The tests are promising, I would even dare call it a 'little miracle'."
Filip like the Belgian vegetables
Sofie concludes: "We expect to send even more products to Canada in the future. The fair has been very interesting. We met a lot of new people, and the exporters are satisfied."
Filip like the Belgian vegetables
Sofie concludes: "We expect to send even more products to Canada in the future. The fair has been very interesting. We met a lot of new people, and the exporters are satisfied."
