The Belgian royal couple started their visit to the province of Limburg with a visit to the BelOrta site in Borgloon. There they were given a tour of the fruit site of the fruit and vegetable cooperative, located in the heart of the fruit growing region.
Now that summer has officially started, the supply of Belgian berries and strawberries is also increasing. The visit of the Belgian royal couple is thus the ideal moment to officially kick off the high season for Belgian berries.
During the visit, the king and queen were given explanations, among other things, about the supply and quality control of the fruit. They were also shown the hypermodern cherry sorting installation. The installation's cameras, powered by advanced recognition software, sort the cherries according to color, size and quality. Both internal and external defects are identified, resulting in a homogeneous and quality product.
Lasty, a stop was made at the sales hall, the beating heart of the cooperative. There the Belgian royal couple was allowed to sit and experience what it is like to buy fruit in the clock auction.
Dirk Bertels, President of BelOrta: "The interest shown by our King and Queen in our sector is very motivational for our growers, who work all year round to deliver locally grown products to the consumers' plates and thus contribute to a healthy diet."
"Today they had the chance to take a look behind the scenes and see with their own eyes the important role BelOrta, as a leading cooperative, plays in the chain between the time a product is harvested and the moment it ends up on the shelf of the store or is delivered to the catering and food service industry," says Philippe Appeltans, director of BelOrta.
One-stop shop for berries and strawberries
BelOrta berries are grown locally and therefore boast optimum freshness and taste. Moreover, it is possible to provide a wide range and, at the same time, extend the season by choosing different varieties and breeds, as well as by resorting to sustainable growing techniques. For example, locally grown blueberries are available at BelOrta until October, raspberries until the autumn vacation and blackberries until the holidays.
In addition to blueberries, raspberries and blackberries, BelOrta also supplies redcurrants, cassis, whitecurrants, prickly pears, cherries and various types of strawberries. Almost all berries are also available in organic formats and supplied in different kinds of packaging.
For more information:
Glenn Sebregts
BelOrta
Tel: +32 (0)15 565 272
glenn.sebregts@belorta.be
www.belorta.be