Gestelberries, based in Hoogstraten, Belgium, was one of the companies that opened its doors as part of the International Strawberry Congress. During the visit, strawberry advisor Dirk Vermeiren from Proefcentrum Hoogstraten guided guests through the Krijnen family's greenhouses, giving them a close-up look at modern strawberry cultivation.
© Thijmen Tiersma | HortiDaily.comThe tour began under a radiant blue sky on the tray field at Gestelberries. View the entire photo report here.
Exchanging expertise
It took only a few minutes before Dirk was met with a stream of sharp, detailed questions. One of the first (a question about fertilization and nitrogen use) made it clear that this was a well-informed international audience. The same went for LED lighting and planting density, where every number he shared was eagerly noted down.
Six kilos of strawberries harvested from a winter crop running from early December to early February? Check. Twelve plants per meter in Meerle troughs? Check. Thirteen kilos per square meter from an everbearer crop that started in mid-February and is still going strong? Check.
Within the hour, visitors' notepads and smartphones were filled with figures, photos, and fresh ideas. The Krijnen family's greenhouses offered plenty of opportunities to capture it all on camera.
© Thijmen Tiersma | HortiDaily.comUV-C robot in action, here during the earlier this year held comparison tour for UV-C robots, in which Gestelberries also participated.
Tasting time
One of the highlights for visitors at Gestelberries was a demonstration of Micothon's UV-C robot. This machine has been working in the greenhouses at night for some time now, helping to keep powdery mildew at bay.
Another highlight was much simpler, yet just as enjoyable—tasting strawberries. While handing out samples, guide Dirk also touched on current challenges. The hot summer has led to some Elsanta berries being a little less perfectly shaped, though the flavor on Friday morning was wonderfully sweet. Visitors also got to try Karima, an everbearing variety that more and more growers are gaining experience with.
After the tasting session, the group set off again—filling four buses, with a few participants traveling by car—on their way to Van Oers Fruit, RKW Hyplast, and MJ-Tech. View the photo report at the link here.
