Kris Peeters

Deputy prime minister Kris Peeters

Healthy snacks are on the rise in the workplace, according to Belgian cooperative BelOrta, which has just confirmed a deal to supply the office of Belgium’s deputy prime minister and minister of the economy and employment, Kris Peeters, with regular deliveries of fresh fruit and vegetables.

“Government employees will now be able to keep a balanced diet full of fruit and vegetable snacks,” said Sofie Lambrecht, manager of BelOrta's marketing division. “As of May, BelOrta is delivering 80kg a week of fresh, top-quality products that are also produced locally. The first snack of the day around 10am will now be a healthy one for the deputy prime minister and his colleagues.”

The first delivery, according to BelOrta, is of 15kg of Jonagored apples. “With this first delivery, they can immediately give Belgian apple growers a helping hand,” said Lambrecht.

For Lambrecht, ensuring employees have access to fresh produce should be a priority for any company that wants its workers to be healthy.

“Most workers consume around one-third or more of their daily diet at work,” she stated. “When employers provide fruit and vegetables for their employees, there are advantages for both parties. Those who eat healthy are less susceptible to illness, more energetic and more satisfied with their jobs.”

For many years, giving out fruit in offices in Belgium has also been fully tax-deductible, making the workplace an ideal place for healthy snacking.