Verwoert Fruit is broadly active in the fruit business. The company combines fruit growing, conditioned fruit storage, and fruit trading. The family business from Lienden grows apples, pears, redcurrants, strawberries, and cherries on 22 hectares. For many years, the company has been marketing itself to fruit traders, exporters, and through its own export lines.
© Verwoert Fruit
Bart and Wim Verwoert
In summer, consumers can visit two sales points in Ochten at a fruit stand and a fruit vending machine, where fruit from the orchard is sold in June and July. "The best thing remains direct sales, because then you have direct contact with the consumer. That way, you quickly know what people like and what they are willing to pay for," says Bart Verwoert.
Verwoert Fruit is currently busy with the last days of picking. "Our pear harvest is slightly bigger than last year, but still below the level we had initially expected. Not in quantity, but mainly in size. Of the apples, we harvested about half of what we normally do. This is partly due to the replacement of new trees, but already in winter, we could see that, due to the lack of sunlight last year, it was not going to be a top apple harvest."
© Verwoert Fruit
Verwoert grows the redcurrant variety Junifer in the greenhouse and Rovada outdoors. "For us, these classics remain the varieties we focus on. I don't see them being replaced any time soon. The redcurrant harvest went well, though. We had beautiful weather and a good volume available," Bart says. Verwoert's redcurrants are 95% exported. "They go everywhere, but France is our biggest market. I do see the redcurrant as a product group on the rise. Berries, nuts, and seeds are very popular. As a fruit sector, we should be able to respond to that."
"The cherry season also went well this summer. With strawberries, on the other hand, it was not the best season. We built a new greenhouse, but due to the incursion of the Suzuki fruit fly and a severe mildew infestation, it remained difficult," says Bart. "We have a whole mix of hard and soft fruit, but especially for direct sales, the combination of strawberries and cherries works well, even though it is labour-intensive at times."
© Verwoert Fruit
However, Verwoert, who together with his brother Wim represents the third generation of the family business, sees regulatory pressure from the government as the biggest threat. "As fruit growers, we depend on climate and nature. We therefore find it very important to take good care of nature and make sustainable choices wherever possible. We do this concretely by using solar panels and natural crop protection products. But with regulations that make no sense, the very foundation of fruit growing is being deliberately undermined."
For more information:
Bart Verwoert
Verwoert Fruit
Provincialeweg 1
4033 BP Lienden
[email protected]
www.verwoertfruit.nl