VLAM at Fruit Logistica

25 suppliers of Belgian potatoes, fruits, vegetables and fruit trees welcome you in Berlin at the VLAM

booth at Fruit Logistica. Together with the present auctions, they present a wide range of top quality

products towards the visitors. Meet them in hall 6.2 stands B-04, B-05, B-06 and B-07.

New booth

VLAM will be participating with a new booth concept. A bright and light structure in white, with a

yellow accent – referring to the region of Flanders – is combined with nice showcases for products.

On top of the stand, modern video loops attract the attention to the products and emphasize the

benefits of the Belgian products.

Fresh fruits and vegetables

The companies attending are: Bel'Export, Boussier / Belfrutex, Calsa/ Weiss, De Plecker – Lauwers,

DBS / DBS Agro, Demargro, Devos Group, Dries Sebrechts Fruit (DSF), Frans Michiels Belgium (FMB),

Gemex, Nicolaï Fruit, Pacbelimex, Vanco Belgium, Vergro and Fruithandel Wouters.

20 years of Flandria

Special attention goes to the Flandria label, which exists exactly 20 years. During this period, Flandria

evolved from a niche label for tomatoes and Belgian endive towards one of the most important

players on the European fresh market. Flandria offers more than 60 products and has a yearly

produce of more than 600.000 tons.

Potatoes

Seven suppliers of potatoes are looking forward to meet their customers: Bart's Potato Company,

Binst Breeding & Selection, Dauchy, De Aardappelhoeve, Pomuni, RTL Patat and Warnez.

Fruit trees

Also two Belgian fruit tree growers are present at the VLAM booth to present their products to an

international audience: Johan Nicolaï and Carolus.

VLAM vzw

Koning Albert II-laan 35 box 50 1030 Brussels

T +32 2 552 80 11- F +32 2 552 80 01

www.vlam.be – vlam@vlam.be

Responsibly Fresh Association of Belgian Horticultural Cooperatives

The Belgian fruit and vegetable auctions are joining forces to promote sustainable development. Four

years ago, in February 2012, they launched the collective sustainability label Responsibly Fresh. Since

then, the auctions involved in the initiative – Belgische Fruitveiling, BelOrta, Limburgse

Tuinbouwveiling, REO Veiling, Veiling Haspengouw and Veiling Hoogstraten – along with the

associated producers, have been continuing to work tirelessly. Certificates have been obtained and

renewed for sustainable business charters and for specific quality systems; collective work has been

conducted on a range of sustainability criteria.

The details of the efforts being made have been collated in a first Responsibly Fresh sustainability

report. In June 2016 the second Responsibly Fresh sustainability report will give an update on the

efforts made and the collective work done on sustainable development by the auctions and there

producers in the past two years. Communication with internal and external stakeholders is key to

Responsibly Fresh. Over te last two years, communication with different stakeholders on diverse

topics has been intensified. Also, a new component ‘development cooperation’ was added to

Responsy Fresh. In that context, VBT and its members will advise ANPE, a Peruvian farmers’

organisation, on themes of common interest.

1. Responsibly Fresh, a collective sustainability label

The Association of Belgian Horticultural Cooperatives (VBT) has been working for a number of years

with the associated auctions on a sustainability project. Companies’ concern for sustainability on the

one hand and the range of labels highlighting specific subsidiary aspects of sustainability on the

other, underpin the process. The auctions have striven from the outset to adopt a proactive,

individual and collective approach. After all, the associated growers are just as diverse in their

business situations as the varied crops of fruit and vegetables that they produce and collectively

market. This diversity means that sustainable development cannot be accommodated within a

limited set of criteria, but it is the objective of a whole spread of activities. Responsibly Fresh stresses

the efforts made by the collective of the producers involved. The auctions add their own touches too,

and it is this diversity that Responsibly Fresh also seeks to take into account while at the same time

concentrating on the collective results.

Auctions can use the Responsibly Fresh sustainability label if three conditions are met. First, the

individual producer is expected to be in possession of a valid certificate from a quality system,

namely Vegaplan or GLOBALG.A.P. Second, the individual auction is expected to hold a certificate for

a sustainable business charter, such as those offered by the provincial governments and/or VOKA

(Flanders’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry). The commitments for external initiatives and the

regular, independent audits make Responsibly Fresh transparent and credible. The third condition is

that the auctions must regularly demonstrate progress for the collective of their producers on a set

of sustainability criteria, collated in a collective dossier.

From the outset, Responsibly Fresh has been focusing on four themes – low impact, biodiversity,

proximity and food thrift. These are topics on which the producers and auctions have already made

huge efforts, and on which there is room for progress.

- Low impact: Be frugal with means of production and apply integrated cultivation

principles,

- Biodiversity: Opt for varied cultivation and support scientific research into new varieties

and growing techniques,

- Proximity: The structure of the marketing cooperatives ensures a short,

integrated chain, resulting in transparent pricing for producers, one-stop

shopping for distributors and affordable quality for consumers,

- Food thrift: Implement tried en tested storage techniques, customer-oriented portions

and continuous anticipation of market demand.

2. Communication with stakeholders

To keep the Responsibly Fresh sustainability project relevant and credible, and to keep driving it

forwards, communication with internal and external stakeholders is very important. That is why VBT

and its members decided to publish a sustainability report every two years to monitor the progress

of all participants in terms of sustainable development. On the one hand, such a report clearly shows

where the project stands at a certain point in time, on the other hand it provides a means for looking

at the future. The first Responsibly Fresh sustainability report was published in 2014, focussing on

2012-2013. The second report will be published half 2016. The report follows the guidelines of the

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Given the strong export focus of the Belgian fruit and vegetable

sector, it is naturally important for this internationally known standard to be applied in order to be

able to communicate on the basis of acceptable principles with foreign customers about the efforts

being deployed in terms of sustainable development within the Responsibly Fresh project. It always

remains a challenge to drive forward the communication on the collective sustainability label

Responsibly Fresh and also to make consumers aware of the commitment to sustainable

development motivating the Belgian auctions and their growers.

Besides the sustainability reports, VBT communicates continuously with internal and external

stakeholders on different topics. Food losses and sustainable procurement are two important themes

on which VBT has worked with stakeholders within Responsibly Fresh during 2015.

In 2015, VBT also added an additional program for stakeholders, concerning sustainability, to the

annual meeting of its general assembly. During the event the importance and development of

sustainability in the sector were discussed with internal and external stakeholders.

3. Development cooperation within Responsibly Fresh

Based on the cooperative idea and a holistic view on sustainable development, VBT and its members

decided to add a component concerning development cooperation to the sustainability project

Responsibly Fresh.

As a cooperative sector, VBT and its members-auctions want to take their responsibility in

sustainable development and want to be pioneers doing so. In that context, the Belgian ngo Trias,

suggested a cooperation between VBT and a farmers’ organisation in the South. Given the similarities

between their operations, VBT has entered into a partnership with ANPE (Asociación nacional de

productores agroecológicos) in Peru. VBT-president Rita Demaré: “Growers in the South often

produce in very difficult conditions, in which they often do not receive a fair price for their products. I

notice that it is often by the creation and the development of cooperatives that our colleagues in the

South are supported and guided, to avoid a too large portion of the created value ending up with

other actors in the supply chain.” VBT and its members-auctions will put their expertise on different

themes at the service of ANPE. Also, possible expertise consignments on specific action points will be

organised.

The course of sustainable development is further promoted by:

Contact person: Laurien Danckaerts – VBT advisor quality & sustainability – Tel +32 (0)16 20 00 80

More information: Responsibly Fresh – www.responsibly-fresh.com and VBT – www.vbt.eu

Facts & figures | Belgium Fresh fruit

- In 2014, Belgium produced 318,411 tons of apples and 374,325 tons of pears, an

increase of 44% and 19% respectively compared to 2013. Since 2011 Belgian pear

production has been larger than the apple production. The production of strawberries

reached 39,320 tons (+ 9.5% compared to 2013).

- Apple exports dropped 15% in 2014. The most important export destinations were the

Netherlands (24%), France (23%) and Germany (23%), followed by Russia (11%), the UK

(4%) and Spain (2%).

The period January to August 2015 shows an increase in apple exports of 26% compared to Jan-Aug

2014. Neighbouring countries continue to head the list of importers: the Netherlands (26%), France

(25%) and Germany (15%). Due to the boycott Russia has dropped completely out of the picture.

Latvia (5%), Czech Republic (4%) and India (3%) are the newcomers in the top 10.

- The year 2014 was exceptional for pears, as regards both production (up 19%) and

export (up 34%). Thanks to a strong first half-year Russia continued to be the number

one for pears in 2014, with a share of 23%. Our neighbours followed far behind: the

Netherlands (15%), France (10%) and the United Kingdom (10%).

In the period January to August 2015 the export of pears dropped by 11% compared to

Jan-Aug 2014. This can be attributed to the absence of exports to Russia due to the

boycott. Indeed, as a result of the boycott, the distribution of the export destinations

changed drastically. The Netherlands (16%), Lithuania (13%) and Latvia (12%) now lead.

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

NETHERLANDS

GERMANY

FRANCE

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

UNITED KINGDOM

CZECH REPUBLIC

LATVIA

LITHUANIA

INDIA

SPAIN

POLAND

LUXEMBOURG

SWEDEN

Export destinations' share of Belgian apple exports (as % of the total export volume)

Jan-Aug 2015

Jan-Aug 2014

- The export of strawberries has been stable in recent years and was less affected by the

Russian import ban. The Netherlands was the most important market in 2014 (21%),

followed by the United Kingdom (20%), France (19%) and Germany (7%). In the period

Jan -Aug 2015 there was an increase of 31% compared to Jan - Aug 2014.

Fresh vegetables

- In 2014 Belgian growers produced a good 796,392 tons of vegetables for the fresh

market, up 0.5% compared to 2013.

Tomatoes (249,245 tons) are the absolute number one product, while leeks (154,000

tons), carrots (81,000 tons), lettuce (nearly 63,000 tons), chicory (39,330 tons), white

cabbage (31,500 tons), peppers (25,580 tons) and cucumbers (17,590 tons) are the other

staples of Belgian vegetable production.

- Belgian exports of fresh vegetables grew 0.7% in 2014. Neighbouring countries are by

far the most important destinations for fresh vegetables: in 2014 the French market was

in first place with a 40% share, followed by the Netherlands (21%) and Germany (19%).

In the period Jan - Aug 2015 we booked 6% growth compared to Jan - Aug 2014.

Neighbouring France (38%), the Netherlands (21%) and Germany (21%) continue to head

the list - and their volumes have risen too. Due to the boycott, the export of fresh Belgian

vegetables to Russia has ceased completely. As a result, Latvia and Lithuania have gained

considerably in importance.

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

UNITED KINGDOM

NETHERLANDS

FRANCE

BELARUS

SPAIN

SWEDEN

GERMANY

LITHUANIA

LATVIA

KAZAKHSTAN

CYPRUS

POLAND

CZECH REPUBLIC

Export destinations' share of Belgian pear exports (in % of the export volume)

Jan-Aug 2015

Jan-Aug 2014

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

FRANCE

NETHERLANDS

GERMANY

UNITED KINGDOM

SPAIN

CZECH REPUBLIC

LUXEMBOURG

ITALY

POLAND

LATVIA

LITHUANIA

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Export destinations' share of Belgian exports of fresh vegetables (in % of export volume)

Jan-Aug 2015

Jan-Aug 2014

Potatoes & potato preparations

- In 2014 Belgian potato growers produced almost 3.690 million tons of potatoes*.

(*provisional data)

- The Netherlands is by far the most important buyer of fresh Belgian potatoes, with a

share of 64%. Trailing way behind are France (19 %) and the United Kingdom (3%). The

share going to countries outside the EU rose to 4% in 2014.

- Belgian potato preparations are also much in demand on foreign markets. In 2014

exports exceeded 2 million tons.

Neighbouring EU countries are the most important customers, with France (23%), the

Netherlands (15%) and the United Kingdom (15%) in the lead. Outside the EU, too,

Belgian potato preparations are increasingly popular. In 2014 third countries took a 21%

share of the total export volume. In the period January to August 2015 exports of potato

preparations rose again, especially to third countries, amounting to 32% growth

compared to the same period in 2014.

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

FRANCE

NETHERLANDS

UNITED KINGDOM

SPAIN

GERMANY

ITALY

BRAZIL

SAUDI ARABIA

PORTUGAL

IRELAND

CHILE

GREECE

JAPANPOLAND

SWEDEN

JORDAN

PHILIPPINES

MALAYSIA

DENMARK

CHINA

COLOMBIA

TURKEY

Export destinations' share of Belgian export of potato preparations(in % of export volume)

Jan-Aug 2015

Jan-Aug 2014

Fruit trees

- In 2014 the production value of fruit trees came to 22 million euros, with fruit trees

constituting a 7% share of the Belgian production of all tree nursery products.

- The biggest customers for fruit trees are France (36%) and Germany (17%), followed by

Poland (10%), the United Kingdom and Italy (both 9%).

- Other countries also appreciate Belgian fruit trees, with a growth in exports to third

countries as a result. Ukraine and Switzerland are regular customers. In the period

January to August 2015 China had a clear lead with a share of 89% of the export volume

to third countries.

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

FRANCE

NETHERLANDS

POLAND

UNITED KINGDOM

CHINA

ITALY

SWEDEN

GERMANY

DENMARK

UKRAINE

SPAIN

CROATIA

LUXEMBOURG

SWITZERLAND

SLOVAKIA

FINLAND

Export destinations' share of Belgian export of fruit trees(in % of export volume)

Jan-Aug 2015

Jan-Aug 2014

News | Belgium

BELORTA With a turnover of more than 400 million euro, BelOrta is the largest fruit and vegetable auction

cooperative in Belgium, and is also a European market leader. Almost 40% of all Belgian horticultural

products traded through auctions are sold via BelOrta. More than 1,350 active growers guarantee a

supply of more than 120 vegetable varieties and 30 fruit varieties throughout the year.

You can visit us in hall 6.2 A-04.

BelOrta auction

info@belorta.be, www.belorta.be

Mechelsesteenweg 120, B-2860 St-Katelijne-Waver

T +32 15 55 11 11, F +32 15 55 06 01

GEMEX INVESTS IN THE FUTURE FROM ITS NEW PREMISES Since 1989 the family business GEMEX has specialised in the export of fruit and vegetables, mainly to

Germany. In February the new company premises will be taken into service. They comprise

approximately 4,000 m2 of work surfaces and refrigerators and are situated in Genk. Thanks to the

integration of the offices, refrigerators and loading/unloading areas in one place, plus the better

logistical location, we can give our customers even better service. And that means we can achieve

further growth.

Gemex c.v.

Rummenweg 176, B-3540 Herk-de-Stad

T +32 13 55 33 26, F +32 13 55 23 36

www.gemex.be, gemex@gemex.be

VEILING HOOGSTRATEN

After a lengthy rebranding exercise, led by an external bureau, we are proud to be able to present

our new brand identity to you at Fruit Logistica 2016. New core values have been defined and

existing ones confirmed. Quality and service are key.

Once again Hoogstraten producers, the Board of Directors and the entire staff are ready to face the

challenges of the future.

Visit us in Hall 6.2, Stand B08. Welcome to the Home of Quality!

Veiling Hoogstraten

Loenhoutseweg 59, B-2320 Hoogstraten

T +32 3 340 02 11, F +32 3 314 78 44

www.veilinghoogstraten.be, info@in-co.be

VEILING HASPENGOUW

- In April Marijke Vanderstukken was appointed as the new CEO of Veiling Haspengouw.

- On 28 August Veiling Haspengouw, UNIVEG and AIF signed a cooperation agreement.

Under the new structure Veiling Haspengouw will continue to exist as a cooperative and

it will even be strengthened by an increase in its sales channels.

- In early September Carlo Franssen was appointed Managing Director of H-Fruit and H-

Pack.

- Veiling Haspengouw introduced the Migo® pear, a pear distinguished by its excellent

storage longevity and display life, smooth skin, attractive form and optimal hardness.

For more info, please visit the Veiling Haspengouw stand in Hall 6.2, Stand B03.

Veiling Haspengouw

Tongersesteenweg 152, B-3800 Sint-Truiden

T +32 11 670 611, F +32 11 672 776

info@veilinghaspengouw.be, www.veilinghaspengouw.be

VEILING REO (AGRICULTURAL AUCTION MARKET)

Besides our classic core products, like leek, greenhouse lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and

courgettes, in recent years REO has also become the partner for:

- White cabbage, red cabbage and celeriac: the whole production is strongly oriented

towards the export of these products. We can supply both the fresh market and industry

in every kind of packaging: nets, boxes of bulk product, wooden crates, green folding

crates, etc.

- Tomabel: we market all products sold under the quality label Tomabel, which is known

for its top quality tomatoes, strawberries, chicory, various types of lettuce, etc.

- Fine Fleur: all of the Fine Fleur products are authentic and of the highest quality. They

include soil-grown tomatoes, soil-grown strawberries, soil-grown chicory, curly endive,

etc.

For more info, please visit us in Hall 6.2, Stand B06.

Veiling REO

Oostnieuwkerksesteenweg 101, B - 8800 Roeselare

T +32 51 231 211 - F +32 51 231 289

www.reo.be - info@reo.be

JOHAN NICOLAI GALA ONE® - EARLY RIPENING GALA

Belgian nurseryman Johan Nicolaï, breeder of the Kanzi® variety, presents Gala One®, an early sort of

Gala Royal Beaut Proselect® that is being commercialized by his Fruit Innovation company: ZOUK.

Gala One® ripens 10 to 14 days before Gala Royal Beaut Proselect®, which brings the picking window

forward by two weeks.

The Gala One® tree was discovered among Gala Royal beaut proselect® mother trees, it showed

more color and also flowered earlier.

The first test trees have been planted with growers in Britain, France, Germany and elsewhere, the

first commercial plantings starting winter 2016, spring 2017.

Johan Nicolaï nv

Brustem industriepark, Lichtenberglaan 2050, B-3800 Sint-Truiden

T +32 11 70 20 00, F +32 11 70 20 01

info@nicolai.be, www.nicolai.be

POMUNI

DUOPACK = 2 IN 1 BAG!

After the introduction of Pomuni’s first packaging last year, the company

has now proudly launched its Duopack. In other words, from now on you

will find a duo of potato varieties in this packaging. Nowadays different

varieties of potato have to be more and more strictly separated, which is

why this was never before seen in the potato department. It is a genuine

innovation and a scoop for Pomuni.

SMALLER PACKAGING

The duopack consists of 2 x 750 g. Ben Muyshondt, Pomuni’s

Operations Manager, states: “We heard from many customers that the

potato market missed having smaller packaging. Until now, the main

focus were the larger 2.5 kg and 5 kg formats for the normal varieties.

The Duopacks offer the customers extra possibilities, because they

now have 2 different varieties in a lower weight. This way, consumers

can have for example both mashed potatoes as well as baked potatoes

in the same week, with the right type of potato. We are convinced that

this can increase the customer’s comfort level in purchasing.

Moreover, the volume can still be adjusted, meaning that we cannot

only diversify the content, but also the weight.”

3 REFERENCES

To begin with, there are 3 different references of duopacks in one display:

i.e. floury potatoes together with firm potatoes, red baby potatoes combined

with yellow baby potatoes and the final duo is floury potatoes packed with

truffle potatoes. The entire range is beautifully presented in a display, which

is again a scoop for Pomuni and the potato department. From October 30th

2015, the duopack is available at Delhaize Belgium with the floury and purple

potatoes.

Come and discover the Pomuni and our duopacks. Visit our stand at Fruit

Logistica Berlin: Hall 6.2 – Stand B-07.

Pomuni

Vaartstraat 247, B - 2520 Ranst

T: +32 3 485 73 73, F: +32 3 485 79 30

trade@pomuni.com, www.pomuni.com

WARNEZ

WARNEZ JUGGLING VARIETY AND CAPACITY

Today, in 2016, Warnez is taking its potato business to a new level.

Thanks to a fully-automated production flow we can handle more

potatoes, more varieties and more types of packaging than ever before.

We put the potato and the satisfaction of our customers, growers and

employees first in everything we do.

EVEN MORE FLEXIBILITY THANKS TO AUTOMATION

Flexibility has always been one of the core values at Warnez. The challenge

lies in retaining this flexibility in an automated environment. In our

updated production zone, we have succeeded in retaining and even

extending the diversity the diversity in our range, in calibrating and tracing

even more precisely and all with improved potato quality, occupational

safety and efficiency.

We are convinced that this contributes to an improvement for our

growers, employees and customers.

Come and discover the new Warnez. Visit our stand at Fruit Logistica Berlin: Hall 6.2 – Stand B-07.

Warnez

Marialoopsesteenweg 2L, B-8700 Tielt

T +32 51 40 08 12, F +32 51 40 54 12

Peter@warnez-nv.be, www.warnezpotatoes.be