This week, the kiwi berry season started for fruit production company B. Breman in Uffelte, the Netherlands. Despite a cold period in May and a heatwave about three weeks ago, the harvest is looking well. Bernard Breman is positive: “Although the harvest is less than last year, I’m very satisfied. The popularity of kiwi berries is headed in the right direction, which can also be noticed regarding demand from supermarkets and fresh produce specialist shops.”
This wasn’t the case at all two years ago. “The popularity of kiwi berries rose more slowly than we hoped. A few years ago, supermarkets like Jumbo were still reserved, and they didn’t dare to carry kiwi berries. Consumer demand is fortunately now rising more and more. Consumers are discovering that kiwi berries aren’t just super healthy, but that they’re also incredibly sweet. That contributes to popularity.” In shops, prices for kiwi berries are now between €2 and €3 for 125 grammes. The grower isn’t worried about competition because of growing popularity. “Growing kiwi berries is incredibly labour intensive. Besides, it takes years before you have production. I therefore don’t expect competition any time soon.”
Bernard primarily supplies his kiwi berries to Coöperatie Hoogstraten, complemented by some regional and local shops and wholesalers. To keep up with all demand, he decided to decrease his blackberry production. He’ll keep 2,000 square metres to make juice, jam and dessert dressing. The remaining 3.5 hectares are for kiwi berries. “It’ll be a lot of hard work to harvest all of the kiwi berries in the coming weeks. The total yield of all growers in the Netherlands and Belgium will be around 150 tonnes this year. We’ll work with 22 pickers from the village, and hopefully the harvest will be done in about four weeks.”
For more information:
Bernard Breman
Fruitteeltbedrijf B. Breman
Winkelsteeg 1 a
7975 PV Uffelte, the Netherlands
tel +31 6 55 14 09 30
[email protected]
www.kiwibes.nu
