At the Tuinbouw Vlaanderen trade show for Flemish horticulturalists and their suppliers, organised by the Malines Auctions on 12-13 November, so-called 'forgotten' vegetables took centre stage.
The Malines Auctions introduced the Bel'Orta logo, which is to be used for all forgotten vegetables meeting the high Flandria quality standards.
Chris De Pooter, director of the Malines Auctions, commented: 'Many star chefs and TV cooks are using forgotten vegetables in unusual dishes. This is helping to increase their popularity, and things like curly kale, purslane, turnips, winter radish, spinach beet, beetroot and other authentic vegetables are regaining their place on the shelves.'
By offering the vegetables their own special label, the auctions hope to attract even greater attention to them.
“With a clear house style which evokes memories of grandmother's kitchen, these vegetables become easy to identify in the supermarket, retail trade and specialty shops,' said De Pooter. 'Promotional support must attract more attention to these old 'new' vegetables.”
