There are market opportunities for inferior quality berries too

A considerable blueberry supply, primarily from Peru, is making its way to the European market. Idea…

A considerable blueberry supply, primarily from Peru, is making its way to the European market. Ideally, they will all be in perfect condition when they arrive, but in reality, that is slightly more nuanced. That is why, 18 months ago, the Dutch company Fruit Cleaning Service was born.

By now, everyone knows where to find this company. "Growers, traders, and even retailers call us when they need inferior or rejected batches sent to the processing industry. Think of us as first aid for soft fruit with quality issues. We have a solution for everything," says Robbert Leisink, who points out a clear distinction between Class I and II fruit. Yet, in both instances, every kilo is reimbursed.

"A container with temperature or CA problems can, obviously, cause drama for both growers and end customers. Fruit Cleaning Service can, however, offer growers the best possible solution and possibly still help the client with replacement Class I fruit from Fruitful-Berries. These companies have different mindsets and market presentations in the areas where they have expertise."

"In these times, when food waste is a hot topic, we offer a concrete solution. I imagine, in the coming weeks, plenty of fruit will arrive from South Africa that was stuck at the ports thanks to the blockade. In the past, most of those rejected pallets would be dumped. We do what we must to ensure that that fruit still finds its place in the market," Robbert concludes.