Processing apples off to a good start at Kervo

Dutch company Kervo in Venlo specializes in processing cherries, but for the last two years it has been handling apples as well. “Industry demands are shifting from canned to fresh,” says Paul van Vossen. “We started with sorting, peeling, canning and so on, but for 18 months we’ve begun processing apples for the fresh market.” But why apples? “Our production line, built for cherries, turned out to be suitable for apples as well. Initially we purchased sliced apples, but we are doing that ourselves now. We can pretty much cut them any way you want.”

This year’s production is double that of last year, so the investment has been a good one. In 2010, the first peeling machine was installed at Kervo. “It’s perfect for slicing the apples exactly the right way,” says Paul. “We really rely on it in now.” Kervo’s processed apples mainly go to bakers, industrial bakeries and other processing firms. According to Paul, an increasing amount of industry people are asking for fresh instead of canned.

Due to a meagre domestic harvest, Kervo is buying its apples abroad. “We get them from Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Prices are higher this season, but that’s okay as long as there are margins to be made.”

[email protected]