The first strawberries of the year have now been sold at BelOrta, marking the official start of the strawberry season. This means that the first Belgian strawberries marketed by BelOrta are now returning to the market.
The product was grown by the Meyers and Colembie families and purchased by the food retailer Spar Colruyt Group. The Colembie family is bringing Lady Emma strawberries to the market, while the Meyers family is starting the season with the Sonsation variety.
In 2025, BelOrta reached a total volume of more than 11 million kg of strawberries, representing an increase of around 700,000 kg compared with 2024.
“Deliveries are starting gradually and will continue to increase in the coming weeks. Thanks to the diversification of varieties and growing periods, we are able to offer our customers high-quality Belgian strawberries over a long period,” says Miguel Demaeght, division manager for berries at BelOrta.
During the main season, from April to July, weekly volumes increase significantly, ensuring a broad and consistent supply.
Variety development
BelOrta’s assortment is also continuing to evolve, with a significant increase in everbearing varieties, which produce fruit several times throughout the season. Lady Emma and Karima remain the main drivers of this growth, while Florice is also gaining increasing importance.
In spring, Sonsation remains a benchmark variety, while Parlando is the one showing the most significant growth among early varieties. In open-field cultivation, Malling Centenary and Sonsation remain the most widely grown varieties.
Thanks to this varietal selection and targeted crop planning, growers are able to adapt to different harvest periods and to market needs throughout the season.
Source text and image: fruchthandel.de
