Besides supporting the Red Cross, the Red Cross Blossom Walk also launched the start of the new Dutch strawberry season this year. The start and finish locations were completely strawberry themed. The 28,040 walkers could feast on fresh strawberries after the walk. In addition, food blogger Francesca inspired the walkers with delicious strawberry dishes. Strawberry growers sold 20,000 punnets of Dutch strawberries to the participants to enjoy at home.
The season has opened again
“Fruitmasters is looking back at a successful opening of the new Dutch strawberry season during the 24th edition of the Red Cross Blossom Walk. Strawberries were very eye-catching at our premises. The participants enjoyed plenty of fresh Dutch strawberries. Furthermore, food blogger Francesca provided much inspiration. She had drawn up several recipes, which participants sampled enthusiastically. We made a huge effort to let consumers know that the new Dutch strawberry season has opened again, and that they are on plenty of shelves again. We hope the walkers had a beautiful day and that they came to like the Dutch strawberries,” Leonard Kampschöer, commercial manager of Fruitmasters, says.
Red Cross Blossom Walk
Fruitmasters opened its premises as starting and finishing points for the Red Cross Blossom Walk for the 24th time. Besides walking through beautiful blossom orchards, the walk is about sportsmanship, solidarity and looking out for people who could use some attention and help. The Royal Netherlands Army built bridges across the river the Linge and private properties were opened especially for this day, so that walkers get to go places that are usually not opened to the public.
First blackberries
On Friday 15 April Fruitmasters auctioned off the first blackberries of the season under quality label Prestige. These blackberries of the strain Loch Tay were offered on the auction of Fruitmasters in Geldermalsen by cultivator Pippel Bramen from Haaften. The twelve punnets of 150 gram were bought by Fruitmasters Holland at €9.- per punnet. This brought the total profit of the first punnets to €108.-. This profit will go to Stichting Glaucoomfonds (Foundation Glaucoma Fund).
Henk van Oosteren (l) and Patrick Claassen (r) with the first blackberries of the season.
Stichting Glaucoomfonds
Glaucoma is a chronic eye disorder, which causes damage to the optic nerve if untreated. The Stichting Glaucoomfonds has as goal improving ophthalmic science and care. The foundation is in particular focusing on preventing visual infirmity and blindness through glaucoma. The foundation also councils on the chronic eye disorder.
