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Duurzame Doeners #12 Van Kessel Fruits

Seventy years of expertise in apples and pears

Cherries, strawberries, apples, pears, potatoes, wheat, and even cows were all part of Van Kessel Fruit nearly a hundred years ago. But for more than seventy years now, the family business from Velddriel has specialized in apples and pears grown on Dutch soil. On a total of about 100 hectares, they cultivate top-quality hard fruit in a sustainable way. For years, Hutten has been one of their regular buyers of Elstar apples (until June), Jonagold apples, and Conference pears.

Van Kessel Fruit manages every link in the chain itself. From growing the fruit in its own orchards, to cooling, sorting, packaging, and transport. They continuously check the quality of the fruit: its firmness and sugar levels. This is done both when the fruit is received and during processing. When the fruit is stored for longer periods, its quality is closely monitored according to the same standards.

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Caring for the soil
Within fruit cultivation, CO2 emissions are not the most important sustainability issue. This is because it involves perennial tree cultivation. On Van Kessel’s land, there is also plenty of greenery that helps capture CO2. The environment and biodiversity, however, are highly important in this sector. Van Kessel takes good care of the Dutch soil. This means cultivating in the most environmentally friendly way possible: using natural predators against pests and fungi, and leaving sufficient space for biodiversity around the orchards. As fertilizer, they use, among other things, “champost,” the spent substrate on which mushrooms have grown. Champost is rich in organic matter and contains nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and lime, making it an effective soil improver. Since the substrate is steamed and thus sterilized during mushroom cultivation, it also contains few weed seeds and pathogens. In addition, it increases pH levels and can make acidic soils less acidic.

“Champost contains nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and lime, which make it an effective soil improver.”

Mowing plan for biodiversity
Mowing has also been done for some time now in a way that promotes biodiversity. Van Kessel does not mow all the paths at once, but alternates them, and even then not across the full width and not too short. In addition, flower strips have been created. Since adopting this approach, they have seen an increasing variety of butterfly species. They shred old apple trees and incorporate them into the soil. Only diseased trees are burned due to the risk of contamination. Organic matter is important in the soil, and the PlanetProof quality mark also requires this.

Electric harvesting stations
Van Kessel uses electric forklifts and electric picking platforms with solar panels at all locations. These also provide shade for the employees. A few diesel vehicles are still in use, but only when the electric ones are unavailable. Solar panels have been installed on the roofs of the company’s buildings, supplying around 30% of its own energy needs. In total, about 2,000 panels are installed on the roof of Van Kessel Fruit.

Preventing water waste
The greatest threat to fruit cultivation is the lack of water during dry summers. Nevertheless, Van Kessel does everything possible to prevent water waste. For example, the fertigation systems have been expanded. This allows water to be supplied in a targeted way, reducing losses. The drip setting of the fertigation system has also been lowered. This was a trial, and each season remains a matter of exploring what is possible in light of extreme weather conditions. They have also invested in their own water purification system. Because the water used during sorting is continuously cleaned, they are able to reuse up to 95% of the process water. The most important step Van Kessel will take in the near future in terms of sustainability is creating more opportunities to retain water for drier periods.

In the series ‘Duurzame Doeners’, Hutten visits and talks with our suppliers about our sustainable match. On our news page, you can also read the other stories.