Although Aart Blom markets the entire fruit assortment with his wholesale, cherry time is the best time of the year for him. "I focused my own cultivation on cherries as well. That's how we can define ourselves!" His sales are mostly focused on the Dutch retail and wholesale, but at his stall Boomgaard D'n Kerkewaerdt at turn off 31 in Wadenoijen consumer also come to buy Dutch cherries.
Until three years ago, Fruitpartners Blom from Deil exported almost half its fruit to the Russian market. When the boycott started at the start of the top fruit season, a quick switch had to be made. By focusing on the German, but particularly the domestic retail, the company was able to maintain its turnover. "Dutch retailers are always in for Dutch cherries. Last week we had an offer on in Hoogvliet and 68 vegetables chefs came in a harvester to visit the company."
"My own covered cherry cultivation of 20 hectares is the base for me and then I buy some cherries from a set group of growers. I do the purchasing myself and so know which cherries I'm buying. In the past I grew a lot of apples and pears myself, but to fill in the programmes for the Dutch supermarkets you have to have volumes. That's why I decided to specialise in the cherry cultivation, in which I see a lot of potential," says Aart.
"It's been a rare good year for cherries. We were able to place the covers on time, which limited the damage from night frost in our cherry orchards. The cherries are unbelievably delicious this year. There is also a good harvest," says Aart. He is hoping for food sales this season. "With the exception of Spain and Greece all producing countries in Europe have a lesser harvest. It has also been colder in southern Limburg, Germany and Belgium."
Aart has been working hard. At the start of June the mayor was handed the first box and the fruit trader also introduced a special cherry packaging with an image of Flipje, foreseen of a unique code with which prizes can be won. Last week the Betuwe cherries were the centre of attention on the TV show Foodmakers and 'last but not least' the grower is organising Open Cherry Days in Wadenoijen on July 29 and 30.
"It's been a rare good year for cherries. We were able to place the covers on time, which limited the damage from night frost in our cherry orchards. The cherries are unbelievably delicious this year. There is also a good harvest," says Aart. He is hoping for food sales this season. "With the exception of Spain and Greece all producing countries in Europe have a lesser harvest. It has also been colder in southern Limburg, Germany and Belgium."
Aart has been working hard. At the start of June the mayor was handed the first box and the fruit trader also introduced a special cherry packaging with an image of Flipje, foreseen of a unique code with which prizes can be won. Last week the Betuwe cherries were the centre of attention on the TV show Foodmakers and 'last but not least' the grower is organising Open Cherry Days in Wadenoijen on July 29 and 30.
Aart also invested in a hydrocooler to be able to store his cherries for even longer. "The only limit of the Dutch cherry season is the length. It will be done in around six weeks. This is why we would like to have a variety with the characteristics of Kordia for the early or late segment, so that we can extend the season. We would to take on the challenge of getting even more delicious cherries to the consumer over the coming years."
For more information:
Fruitpartners Blom
Hooiweg 16a
4158 LE Deil
Tel: 0031 (0) 345-651311
Aart3@fruitpartnersblom.nl
www.fruitpartnersblom.nl
Fruitpartners Blom
Hooiweg 16a
4158 LE Deil
Tel: 0031 (0) 345-651311
Aart3@fruitpartnersblom.nl
www.fruitpartnersblom.nl