Fruitbedrijf L.M. van Dijk, based in Lexmond, is busy year-round growing, cooling, sorting, packing, and transporting top fruit. However, they often experienced a quieter period at the end of the season. "Once the pears were gone, we frequently ran out of trade," explains Mathijn van Dijk. "That's when we started cleaning wooden fruit crates as an additional activity."
Initially, the fruit grower used a dipping process in which wooden crates were treated with a chemical solution. When regulations no longer permitted chemical residues on fruit, Van Dijk developed a new mobile washing installation together with a neighboring company. This system allows both plastic and wooden bins to be cleaned using hot water at 75 degrees Celsius. "As soon as the chemical treatment was no longer an option, demand for an alternative solution quickly arose. Everyone wants to start the new harvest with clean fruit crates."
From dirty to clean
The crate washing service rapidly gained popularity, attracting regular customers such as Van Ossenbruggen, Van Blijderveen, Oskam, and Groda AGF. "Washing crates offers significant benefits. For example, the water in the water dumper stays cleaner and helps reduce infection pressure," says Mathijn. Because the washing installation is mobile, crates can be cleaned anywhere. "We transport the washing unit on a flatbed trailer behind our truck, taking it directly to growers' sites. With our self-developed mobile washing facility for storage crates, we now travel all over the Netherlands and Belgium. We bring our own forklift and are fully self-sufficient, except for electricity and water. If needed, we even bring our own generator."
By now, crate washing has become an important sideline during early summer," Mathijn continues. "With a capacity of around 30 crates per hour, we can work both quickly and efficiently without compromising on quality. Each day, we use about 1,000 liters of water. We do much of the washing on growers' premises, but we also have the capacity to wash crates at our own farm. This is particularly convenient when sorting fruit for third parties, as it allows us to handle both tasks in one operation."
Growers do not have to compromise on price. At Van Dijk's location in Lexmond, washing costs €5 per bin, while on-site washing at a grower's premises costs €6 per bin. Mathijn sees plenty of opportunities to expand the business. "The demand extends beyond apple and pear growers. For example, sprout growers also use these types of crates, meaning the potential market is much larger."
From May onwards, when most growers' crates are emptied, Mathijn expects the crate washer to be in full operation again. Until then, the focus remains on their core fruit business. "In addition to cultivating Conference, Lukassen, and Comice pears as well as Elstar apples, we also purchase fruit directly from growers and handle significant volumes for nearby fruit producers. We provide cooling and transport services as well. Currently, fruit prices are favorable, but since purchasing costs have been high, making an extra profit remains a challenge," Mathijn concludes.
For more information:
Mathijn van Dijk
Fruitbedrijf L.M. van Dijk
Achthoven 67
4128 LX, Lexmond
Mob: +31 06 27023041
info@lmvandijk.nl
www.lmvandijk.nl