The quality of strawberries improves with proper pollination and, according to Mario Coremans, bees can play an important role here. His beekeeping business Imkerij Coremans is specialized in pollinating soft fruit, especially strawberries under glass. “Growers seem more aware that good pollination is an investment in fruit quality.”
Return
Initially started as a hobby and after a graduation project at the HAS university of applied sciences, Imkerij Coremans has become a full-fledged company. “We started with the professionalization with the idea to offer growers a good and stable solution for pollination. Growers are often dependent on bumblebees for the pollination of crops, while the right combination of pollinators means that a higher return can be achieved, both in spring and in autumn.” Mario has noticed that among growers pollination is sometimes a neglected aspect: “Factors such as climate, nutrition and crop protection are much more professionally approached by the sector and thus better known among growers. Especially now that buyers are increasingly looking for fruit quality, good pollination pays off both literally and figuratively.”
Growth
Much has changed at Imkerij Coremans during the past year. The company has grown strongly in numbers and quality. “We are doing everything we can to get rid of the amateurish image that beekeeping still has. By placing myself in the position of the grower, I have come to understand that keeping bees is only a means and pollination is the goal. From this idea, courses in fruit cultivation were followed and the added value for the grower has become central. And yes, sometimes that does mean advising to use more bumblebees.”
Also this season Imkerij Coremans will visit growers throughout the Netherlands and Flanders to bring the best results via pollination. After the good experiences of last year there is a rising trend in the number of customers and bee populations. “We always ask growers to contact us in time; in early spring it is difficult to get good extra bee populations on an urgent basis. Applying earlier will prevent disappointments for growers.”