"Belgium: "Everything was against the top fruit season"

The apple and pear season, carefully said, was very disappointing. The family company Bels-Best fruit from Sint Truiden, Belgium has been packing and supplying apples, pears and cherries for years. Supply goes via Veiling Haspengouw. "This season just about everything was against us, the weather, hail damage, volumes and prices" Luc says.

 

"Pears have looked a bit better in the last few months. The price has increased quite a bit but at most, I think, about 90% has already been sold and unfortunately the pear growers did not get rich on this. At the moment the average price is about

60 cents. Two months ago this was only 40 cents. Therefore this is a clear improvement. Apples are still difficult." Also Bels-Best has sold its stock of pears already and will supply apples for another 5 to 6 weeks.


l to r: Luc, Remi (father) and Marc Bels

The better part of the Belgian and Dutch top fruit is exported. "We depend on our markets abroad," according to the manager. Together with his brother Marc he manages the fruit company Bels-Best with an area of 80 HA. The new season starts again in September. What about the future? "It is difficult to say. We are very dependent on the weather, but expectations look better. They estimate that the European production will be smaller and that could possibly result in a better price."

 

For more information:
Luc Bels
Bels-Best Fruit NV
8, Brustem-Dorp
3800 Sint-Truiden - Belgium
+32 0495-549750
+32 011-692689
lucbels@gmail.com
www.belsbest.com