Belgium: First wild strawberries and raspberries at Veiling Borgloon

Wednesday morning the 2nd of May the premier sale of Eburon raspberries and wild strawberries took place at Veiling Borgloon (Belgian auction house). This starts the new soft fruit season, which will last until Christmas. Both premiers were bought by Metro Cash&Carry Belgium. The first box of raspberries of 12x125 grammes was sold for 40 Euro per box. For the wild strawberries (8x100 grammes) 39.50 Euro for a 100 gram box was paid.

The first wild strawberries

The raspberries were supplies in a box of 1.5 kilos by Albert Horten of the Proefcentrum Fruitteelt, testing garden for strawberries and woodland berries.

Left: Albert Horten, Proefcentrum Fruitteelt and right, grower Stefan Carlens

The first wild strawberries came from grower Stefan Carlens from Heers. "It really is a delicacy", he says. "We placed the plants under heated greenhouses in mid January and we expect more harvest next week. The buyers are mainly top restaurants and the wild strawberries have a delicious taste and aroma." The cultivation of wild strawberries is done in substrates, so that they meet the highest requirements in quality and hygiene. Wild strawberries are available until the end of the year.

Left Mieke Thoelen and right Albert Horten

Mieke Thoelen, fieldmanager of soft fruit, indicates that Veiling Borgloon expects a good season. "The brambles have arrived and the first blueberries will arrive in mid May. We already have lots of strawberries in the assortment. We expect a good soft fruit season and products of good quality."

www.eburon.be