Product Offerings
Product Categories:
fruits and vegetables
Products:
Fresh Fruit: Apples, Pears, Strawberries, Cherries, Other Soft Fruit (organic options available)
Belgian Fruit Valley (Belgische Fruitveiling cv), headquartered in Sint-Truiden, Belgium, is the largest fruit cooperative in Belgium and a central player in the European fruit trade market. The organization functions as a grower-owned cooperative and auction system, uniting hundreds of fruit producers across Flanders under a single, efficient commercial platform.
Organizational Structure and Mission
Belgian Fruit Valley (BFV) operates as a cooperative enterprise, representing over 1,000 member growers who collectively cultivate thousands of hectares of high-quality fruit orchards. The organization is committed to:
- Aggregating and marketing fruit on behalf of its members.
- Ensuring fair prices and market access for growers.
- Maintaining quality, safety, and sustainability throughout the value chain.
- Facilitating innovation in varietal development and cultivation techniques.
The BFV's cooperative model empowers small- and medium-sized growers while providing industrial-scale access to international fruit markets.
Core Products and Market Focus
The BFV specializes in the marketing and export of high-quality fresh fruit, particularly:
- Pears (Conférence, Durondeau, Sweet Sensation)
- Apples (Jonagold, Jonagored, Greenstar®, Evelina®, Magic Star®, etc.)
- Cherries (both table and processing varieties)
- Strawberries
- Soft Fruits (blueberries, raspberries)
- Organic produce in select categories
Belgian Fruit Valley is recognized internationally for its top-tier Conférence pears, with Belgium ranking among the leading exporters of this variety in Europe.
Sales Channels and Auction System
One of BFV’s most significant contributions to the fruit trade ecosystem is its modern auction infrastructure, which includes:
- Electronic Clock Auctions – Transparent and real-time bidding used by thousands of national and international buyers.
- Direct sales programs – Customized contracts for retail and wholesale partners.
- Export services – Shipments coordinated with phytosanitary compliance and tailored packaging.
The auction model ensures price transparency, competition, and efficiency, giving both growers and buyers confidence in fair market transactions.
Export Market Performance
BFV is a major export driver for Belgian fruit, with logistics and trade partnerships across:
- Western Europe (Germany, Netherlands, France, UK)
- Eastern Europe (Poland, Czech Republic)
- Middle East (Saudi Arabia, UAE)
- Asia (China, India in recent years via phytosanitary protocol negotiations)
Key export metrics:
- Over 150,000 tons of pears and apples traded annually.
- Pears account for over 50% of export volumes, led by Conférence.
- Export destinations span over 30 countries globally.
Quality Assurance and Certification
BFV maintains rigorous quality and safety standards, backed by certifications including:
- GlobalG.A.P.
- BRC Food Certification
- IFS Logistics
- QS (Germany)
- Organic Certification (EU standards) for bio products
Their in-house quality control department handles sampling, residue testing, labeling verification, and compliance with international MRL standards.
Innovation and Sustainability
BFV supports its growers with cutting-edge agricultural support and R&D in:
- Sustainable orchard management
- Integrated pest control and biological treatments
- Irrigation and water-saving techniques
- Precision farming with drones and satellite monitoring
The cooperative also invests in climate-resilient varietals such as Greenstar® (low browning apple) and Magic Star® (long shelf-life apple), designed to meet shifting climate and consumer expectations.
Logistics and Packaging
BFV owns and operates multiple centralized packing and cold storage facilities in Sint-Truiden and surrounding areas. Key capabilities include:
- Grading lines with optical sorting
- Custom retail and export packaging
- Controlled atmosphere storage
- Certified cold chain logistics for international shipping
Strategic Partnerships
BFV collaborates with:
- Retail chains across Europe for direct-to-shelf programs
- Research institutes like Proefcentrum Fruitteelt (Fruit Research Centre)
- Export promotion agencies, including VLAM (Flanders Agricultural Marketing Board)
These partnerships ensure growers remain competitive, informed, and connected to global markets.
Major Achievements
- Became the largest pear exporter in Belgium, leading EU shipments of Conférence pears.
- Developed multiple branded apple varieties tailored for export markets.
- Pioneered the digital auction model now used across Europe.
- Maintained consistent export volumes despite global logistics disruptions, highlighting operational resilience.
Belgian Fruit Valley continues to serve as a model for cooperative excellence, uniting tradition and innovation to deliver premium fruit to markets worldwide with transparency, sustainability, and grower empowerment at its core.