Members of the fresh produce industry worldwide are mourning the loss of Willem Baljeu, one of the best known and most widely respected members of the Dutch fresh produce business, who died last week at the age of 69.
Baljeu was at the forefront of the Netherlands’ development as a major player in the international fresh fruit and vegetable market over the past two and half decades, travelling the globe as director of its export trade association Frugi Venta for 12 years until his retirement in September 2011.
Retirement turned out to be a misleading term, however: Baljeu continued to be heavily involved in the Westland horticultural sector, working as a consultant for Best Fresh Group while continuing as chairman of the Agro Businessclub Westland and generally remaining closely involved in the sector.
Having joined German retail giant Edeka in 1967 and worked for the group for over 30 years, Baljeu proceeded to participate in an almost countless number of different projects across the fresh produce business.
Industry organisations and projects including the Product Board for Horticulture, the Dutch Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Board, Quality Control Bureau, Freshfel Europe, Greenport Holland, Food Compass, Frug I Com, Fresh Corridor and the GroentenFruit Bureau all benefited from his committed and enthusiatic contribution.
On stepping down as director of FrugiVenta in 2011, Baljeu was made an Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau.
The funeral service was due to be held today at the Beukenhage cemetery in 's-Gravenzande, near The Hague.
