"Each year, at least one grower quits, leaving more demand than supply"

While the import market is in the middle of the Italian grape season, the Belgian grape season has already started in mid-July. On 12 July, Druiven Dewit in Overijse, Flanders, one of Belgium's few remaining professional grape growers, officially kicked off the season. "We were earlier than usual this year, but I think, due to the sunny spring, this applies to a lot of fruit. However, the season is running smoothly again, and last week we were able to put the grapes back in the spotlight nicely during the Overijse Grape Festival," said Koen Dewit of the family company.

Fifth generation
The grape festivals are an annual tradition in the region, where Overijse grapes take centre stage. "It attracts huge crowds to the region. There are performances, a carnival, and a whole host of events around the grape, such as the election of the best grape. It is a great opportunity to remind people that here in Belgium, we also have beautiful grapes, which really stand out in taste and quality compared to the imported product. We also hear this from the reactions. People who are not usually regular customers come to buy a bunch and often don't want anything else afterwards. Not everyone can always come to the market every week, but when they are in the neighbourhood, many return. It was another resounding success," says the grower.

Koen is the fifth generation at Druiven Dewit. He took over from his father, Philip, at the beginning of this year. "After 50 years of hard work, he can now enjoy his well-earned retirement. That doesn't mean that he and my mother are doing nothing anymore. On the contrary, they are still very active in the business. Only the big decisions, and the long hours that come with them, are now my responsibility. But I enjoy it."

It was clear from the start that Koen would step into the family business. "I did try to study at first, but I ended up seeing the inside of a café more often than the inside of a classroom. It soon became clear where my passion lay, so after two years, I joined the business. It's now been about 14 years, and I don't regret it one bit."

Unique situation
This season, which will run until about mid-October, is once again going smoothly for Druiven Dewit. "Everything looks top-notch again. We are very satisfied with the quality and yield. It's also more or less the same every year, because we can regulate it nicely in the greenhouse. This year, we were only about 10 days earlier than in other years. We have no complaints about demand either. Every year, a grower (unfortunately) quits, and that demand then comes to us or to the other larger growers. Currently, there are only about three or four of them left, so demand is increasingly concentrated. That leads to more demand than supply. A unique situation, but it doesn't mean you can just ask for anything for your grapes. There is definitely a limit, and you have to make sure your grapes are sold properly. My father used to say: 'Be happy with your position, don't be too greedy. ' And that's right, because we can make a good living from it."

So, is there no ambition to expand? "Well, that's different from asking for too much money. We are always looking at opportunities. Of course, we are in the position of being one of the few larger grape growers, and not many new ones are entering, because it is very difficult these days. Maybe we can do something with that in the future, but for now, I'm mainly taking everything in during my first year as manager. After that, we can always see what steps we can take."

For more information:
Koen Dewit
Druiven Dewit
Brusselsesteenweg 262
3090 Overijse, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0) 478 54 24 55
[email protected]
www.druivendewit.be
www.facebook.com/DruivenDewitOverijse