export companies of fruits and vegetables from Europe

BEL'EXOPRT export company of fruits and vegetables from Belgium

Welcome

BEL’EXPORT is a modern fruit and vegetable company that has been cultivating, harvesting, storing, sorting, packaging and transporting fruit and vegetables for over 90 years. Our innovative techniques, extensive growing expertise and many years’ experience make us your ideal partner.

About us

Family fruit growing company and your total partner

BEL’EXPORT is a fruit growing company based in Borgloon, ‘the pearl of the Haspengouw’ in Belgium, that has been renowned for its high-quality products and service for four generations. As an innovative company, we’re your partner for every aspect of the production process and commercialisation of fruit and vegetables.

Family fruit growing company and your total partner

Fruit growing company with a rich history

BEL’EXPORT was founded in March 1994. Our company is part of the Derwael fruit growing company, established by Henri Derwael in 1922. Fruit cultivation was secondary to cattle breeding at the time. Tall trees were planted to provide shade for the cows. But the landowners had no interest in the fruit produced by these trees and put it up for sale every year. The person who offered the most was allowed to come and pick the fruit to store it in silos and sell it. This was a commercial activity that Henri Derwael specialised in, which formed the foundation for the Derwael fruit growing company.

A few milestones in our history

1956Willy and Michel, Henri’s sons, join the company
1960We plant the first low trees
1974We stop growing apples and pears on tall trees
1976We build our first warehouse (2,200 m²) and install cooling systems From 1976 – Hendrik and Jos, Michel’s sons, and Tony and Gaston, Willy’s sons, join the company
1991We build our second warehouse with the same surface area (2,200 m²)
1992We switch to our environmentally friendly growing method with integrated cultivation
1994BEL’EXPORT is founded
1995We launch our own label Bel’ de Looz
1999We acquire our first certificates
2000We acquire HACCP and ISO 9002

2000Dieter Derwael is the first of the fourth generation to join the company
2001We build our third warehouse, a refrigerated complex with loading docks
2003We acquire the BRC health certificate
2003We expand our services with small packaging
2004We acquire the IFS health certificate
2005We build our fourth and fifth warehouses, giving Bel’Export a surface area of more than 1 hectare in total
2015The fridges dating back to 1974 are dismantled and fully modernised to satisfy new standards in food safety
2016We acquire the QS certificate
2017William Derwael, Lowie Derwael, Kevin Derwael and Simon Wouters join the company

Own production

Looking for high-quality and delicious fruit cultivated on fertile Haspengouw land? Choose Bel’ de Looz, the label from BEL’EXPORT. Our innovative cultivation techniques mean we can regularly offer new fruit varieties.

Bel’ de Looz

BEL’EXPORT sells fruit that we have grown ourselves under the Bel’ de Looz label. Our label stands for fresh, high-quality products that are ecologically cultivated on rich Haspengouw land. Our innovative cultivation techniques mean we can regularly offer new varieties of apples, pears, cherries and strawberries – ensuring we remain a market trendsetter.

200 million pieces

The cultivation company has been part of New Green, a dynamic cooperative of local fruit growers and producers who specialise in ecological fruit cultivation, since 2009. Together we manage a surface area of 1000 hectares. Every year the members of this cooperative produce some 200 million pieces of fruit which are distributed over the whole world via the fast BEL’EXPORT network.

ETI Base Code | Ethical Trading Initiative

Bel’Export supports the ETI base code for all its staff members.

Our certifications and standards

BRC Certificate

The British Retail Consortium specifies the criteria for food safety and quality for producers that want to supply their products to the retail trade in the United Kingdom. BEL’EXPORT has implemented the HACCP system to achieve this standard. This system is a risk-inventory for foodstuffs that minimises the risk of contamination during the production process.

IFS

The International Food Standard is a standardised reporting system that subjects companies that produce or process food to an audit. The standard focuses on setting up the HACCP system, implementing the basic principles of a quality system (such as the treatment of crops and traceability and recall of products) and compliance with good production practices and hygiene within the company.

GLOBALG.A.P

GLOBALG.A.P contains the most important guidelines for the global production standard for agricultural and horticultural products and defines the minimum requirements that fruit and vegetables must satisfy for retailers. GLOBALG.A.P supports the HACCP system principles and is a resource for integrating IPM in commercial agricultural production.

CoC

QS

Our Products

Apples

Tastes differ. That’s why you’ll find all the best varieties of apple that Haspengouw has to offer in our wide selection. Whether you want light green or dark red apples, with a tangy or sweet flavour, you’re always certain to find delicious and very high-quality apples at BEL’EXPORT.

Jonagold

Appearance
The Jonagold is a fluffy, crisp fruit with a green-yellow basic colour and crimson blush. The flesh is light yellow.

Flavour
In terms of taste, this apple is juicy and aromatic with a good sweet-sour ratio. It is very popular in Belgium. This apple is also recommended for cooking, for example in apple pies and crumbles. There are of course other natural selections descended from Jonagold, such as Novajo, King, Marnica, Jonagored, Decosta, Red Prince, etc.

Availability
Jonagold is available from September until July.

Jonagored

Appearance
Jonagored apples are a deeper red than Jonagold and particularly distinctive thanks to their light vertical stripes. It still has a yellow-green basic colour. Jonagored is mainly popular as an export apple thanks to its largely red colour and typical stripes.

Flavour
Jonagored apples have the same sweet-sour aroma and flesh characteristics as Jonagold.

Availability
Jonagored is available from September until July.

Red Prince

Appearance
Red Prince apples have the same flavour as Jonagold or Jonagored. This variety is also a natural selection descended from Jonagold, but with the characteristic of having very strong colours. Red Prince can be cultivated to be 80% to 100% red.

Availability
Red Prince apples are available from September until July.

Zari

Appearance
The Zari is a summer apple. It is a lovely striped, firm, sweet, crunchy and very juicy apple.

Flavour
It combines the summer flavours of its parents (Elstar and Delbar) with an exceptional shelf life.

Availability
The Zari is available from August until December.

Belle de Boskoop

Appearance
The Belle de Boskoop is a red-brown apple with a green basic colour and a rough skin.

Flavour
The Belle de Boskoop has a long history as a typical cooking apple. It’s extremely suitable for all sorts of dishes such as apple purée or for stewing… The flesh is a bit more acidic in flavour.

Availability
The Belle de Boskoop is available from September until May.

Golden Delicious

Appearance
The Golden Delicious is a golden-yellow apple, sometimes with a bright pink blush.

Flavour
The flesh is yellow and crunchy. The flavour is rather sweet and aromatic.

Availability
The Golden Delicious is available from October until June.

Elstar

Appearance
The Elstar is a smaller apple, coloured red and yellow.

Flavour
The Elstar has a fresh, sweet-acidic flavour.

Availability
The Elstar is available from the end of August until May.

Gala

The Gala is a small sweet apple. It is a variety that is grown worldwide.
The Gala is available from September until March.

Belle de Boskoop

The Braeburn is a beautiful red hard apple with a smooth skin. The flesh is yellow with a strong structure. It has a sweet acidic flavour and is available from October until April.

Fuji

The Fuji is a pale red apple with yellow basic colour. The flesh is yellow. It has a sweet flavour and is available from October until April.

Cox’s Orange Pippin

Appearance
The Cox’s Orange Pippin is a small apple with an orange-red colour. This apple has been around for many years and is particularly well-known and appreciated in Belgium.

Flavour
Very aromatic apple with a juicy, sweet flavour.

Availability
Cox’s is available from September until February.

Pears

BEL’EXPORT offers you a selection of quality pears for various uses. Are you looking for delicious crunchy pears to eat out of your hand? Or do you want varieties with a firm flesh to use in products or dishes? We supply the best pears to satisfy your wishes.

Conference

Appearance
The Conference pear is a long pear with a light to moderate bronzed skin. It’s a very popular pear in many countries, which means that it is often exported. It’s unique thanks to its long shape and can be stored all year round.

Flavour
The flavour is mild and sweet. It’s a crunchy fruit, but can also be eaten soft when it’s a bit riper. This pear definitely deserves a place in any good kitchen.

Corina

The Corina pear is the same pear as the Conference, but it ripens three weeks earlier and so is available as early as the end of July, beginning of August. It’s sold exclusively for export by Bel’Export.

Doyenné du Comice

Appearance
The Doyenné du Comice, also called ‘the king of pears’, is a thick pear with a light bronzed skin.

Flavour
The flesh is creamy yellow and extremely sweet. The dessert pear par excellence.

Durondeau

Appearance
The Durondeau pear is a thick golden-brown pear with a red blush.

Flavour
Its characterful ‘sour’ flavour, grainy flesh structure and juiciness are particularly appreciated by connoisseurs.

Dicolor

Appearance
The Dicolor is a sweet red pear with a yellow basic colour. It’s a cross between Forelle and Williams.

Flavour
The Dicolor pear has a sweet flavour and light crunchy structure.

Beurré Alexander Lucas

Appearance
The Beurré Alexander Lucas is a large pear with a completely green skin.

Flavour
The flavour is quite sweet and the flesh quite grainy.

Strawberries

BEL’EXPORT, a specialist in fruit production, packaging and distribution, offers three varieties of strawberry. Choose freshness and the unique flavour of our home-grown strawberries, or go for our partners’ beautiful and delicious options. One thing is certain: you will only receive the best quality strawberries, packaged same-day fresh and delivered according to your wishes.

Elsanta

Appearance
With its glossy red flesh and beautiful conical form, the Elsanta variety can be considered the most famous and important of strawberries.

Flavour
Elsanta is a sweet strawberry.

Availability
This strawberry is extremely suitable for transportation and available from April until December.

Darselect

Appearance
Darselect is a cross between Elsanta and Parker. It is characterised by its strong dark red colour.

Flavour
The Darselect is quite a sweet variety of strawberry.

Availability
It is extremely suitable for transportation and available from April until December.

Cherries and berries

You’ll find the best and most flavoursome cherries and berries on the market at BEL’EXPORT. Discover our selection of raspberries, red berries, blackberries and cherries – distinguished by their rich colours, beautiful shapes and delicious flavours.

Kordia

The Kordia is a dark red cherry with a crunchy sweet flavour. It is not susceptible to cracking and has a medium ripening time.

Regina

Regina is a crunchy, very aromatic dark red fruit with an exquisite sweet flavour. This cherry variety ripens very late and is not susceptible to cracking.

Blackberry

The Loch Ness is the most important variety of blackberry. It’s a large black glossy fruit with an exquisite flavour. There are some very promising new varieties which we are monitoring closely.

Red Berry

The long vines with beautiful red round fruits are characteristic of the Rovada, the most familiar red berry. This gem is available from July until December. New varieties such as Haronia are also emerging and being received very positively.

Raspberry

The Tulameen is the most important variety of raspberry. It’s a large firm fruit with a glossy red colour and exquisite flavour. The Kwanza is very much on the rise here too and will eventually oust the Tulameen.

Vegetables

Our range of vegetables excels in freshness and delicious, natural flavours. BEL’EXPORT is your partner for sorting, storing, packaging and transporting high-quality vegetables all year round. We have leeks, tomatoes, lettuces and carrots – all bursting with vitamins and minerals.

Leeks

Baby leeks are available from April until August, autumn leeks from September until November and winter leeks from December until April. Leeks are low in calories and high in fibre and vitamin A.

Baron

This large, highly valued Belgian tomato has a multi-cell structure with firm flesh. It’s a flavoursome and juicy tomato that’s very versatile in the kitchen. A mainstay in Belgian tomato growing.

Prince

This homogeneous glossy tomato is very firm with a long shelf life. They are dark red in colour and well known for their consistent quality.

Elite

Elite tomatoes are characterised by their excellent uniformity and beautiful presentation. They are firmly attached to the vine with a deep red colour. Elite tomatoes have a long shelf life and are very firm with strong, bright green vines.

Ministar

The exclusive Ministar tomato has an exceptional flavour, deep red colour and sweet aftertaste. The vines in a fishbone shape ensure a beautiful presentation.

Root crops

With root crops, we make a distinction between carrots that are available from early (under glass) until later in the year and carrots without any foliage that are mainly available in the winter months. Root crops are very rich in carotene and vitamins A and C.

Packaging

BEL’EXPORT likes to make it easy for you: we provide total solutions for your fruit and vegetables. So you can also rely on us for your packaging.

Packaging as desired

No more repackaging

Choosing packaging services by BEL’EXPORT helps you work more efficiently and save costs. The advanced technology in our two packaging stations means we can package your products ready for retail. We can give every pack a sticker or label of your choice, so there’s no longer any need for a repackaging stage.