“Growth in various vegetables and soft fruit”

Coöperatie Hoogstraten once again grew in the illuminated cultivation of tomatoes. Three years ago, they started with 20 hectares. The year after that, it doubled, and another 20 hectares was added in 2016. “At first, we were fairly skeptical about illuminated cultivation. After all, there are plenty of other suppliers in winter, including Spain, Morocco and Italy. Yet we have noticed there is plenty of demand for our illuminated tomatoes, and that they are marketed at good prices,” says Jan Engelen from Coöperatie Hoogstraten. The area of illuminated cultivation for strawberries is still small: around five hectares. “Costs per kilograms for that are higher as well, so that expansion is a bit slower.”

“About five per cent of supplied strawberries are suitable for processing. This year, we want to further expand our jam, Hoogstraten Confituur. We started this with small volumes in 2016. The jam consists of 100 per cent Hoogstraten strawberries. In 2016, the product was exclusively for sale at Delhaize, and this year we will also supply to Colruyt, Spar/Alvo, Makro and Match. We will also look at whether it is interesting to export the jam,” Jan says. “In the past, we supplied the lesser quality strawberries to various buyers who processed the products, but now only a few are left who do that. By processing a part of it into Hoogstraten jam, we can create an added value.”

This year, Hoogstraten will organise the International Strawberry Congress for the third time. “The theme is Strawberries on Demand: The Consumer Rules the Future. Consumers decide the trends. The event takes place from 6 to 8 September in Antwerp. This year will also feature a mix of science and trade, we think it’s important for both parties to come into contact with each other. We want to emphasise that this event is not a one man show: we will also welcome our competitors.”