Increasing numbers of Belgian producers are growing their strawberries in protected conditions, whether under glass or plastic, which enables them to extend the season.
As such, the volume of strawberries supplied under the Flandria quality label is set to increase once again this year.
Strawberry grower Koen Depraetere from Geluwe in West Flanders said: “The most revolutionary aspect is the shift from outdoor cropping to protected cropping on substrate. Bumblebees and honeybees ensure pollination in the glasshouse. The strawberry plants aren’t exposed to the vagaries of the weather, which helps prevent any deterioration in quality. They’re also less susceptible to disease. So fewer crop protection measures are needed, which is right in line with the Flandria concept of environmentally sound cultivation practices.”
This year Flandria auctions are anticipating a slight increase in production of 3-5 per cent from heated and unheated protected cropping. As such the season will start earlier and last longer, more or less from April through to January.
Rik Decadt, production manager at REO auction, commented: “Thanks to the development of early strawberry varieties, the main one being Clery, the strawberry season has been more spread out in the past few years. The first crop arrives a good three weeks earlier and we’ve been able to offer buyers Flandria strawberries from mid-March.”
