With the turn of the year approaching, the second part of the Belgian pear season is yet to start, but not at Fruitbedrijf Morren, where all the pears have already been sorted and sold. "Until June or July, I never really slow down. We sell them as soon as possible each year, and because the yield was significantly lower this year, we were already sold out by November," says grower Bert Morren of the Kortenaken-based company of the same name.
©www.straffestreek.be
Last season, he still had pears available until the first months of 2025. "Then, of course, we had a much larger harvest. I don't wait that long anymore because I don't want to risk the storage. There are always potential issues—storage failures, price drops due to geopolitical tensions, or the arrival of overseas fruit. I prefer to sell everything as soon as possible. Especially this year, there are storage risks. These will only become apparent in April or May, but it was a turbulent spring, and there were fewer pears on the trees. As a result, the pears are a bit bigger, which can sometimes lead to problems like hollow pears."
"I'm not complaining, though," Bert continues. "It's a deliberate choice, and we were able to sell them at excellent prices, so we're still having a normal financial year. Prices haven't risen significantly, so I think we've done well." He is satisfied with the sales over the months. "The pears were also of good quality. They were a bit bronzy due to the issues in spring. Plus, there was a bit of hail here and there, but it wasn't too bad for us. The market accepted it. There's no excess fruit, and people understand the challenges we faced as growers, so there were no issues with a few imperfections or rough spots. Internally, the quality was still good, and they sold well."
So, what are Bert and his wife Joke focused on now? "Pruning," Bert laughs. "There's a lot of pruning to do this year. With all the rain, there's been a lot of growth in the trees, which keeps me busy. Besides, our local produce shop is also quite busy, as we process our own fruit. Customers can order composite baskets, which are in high demand for the holidays. The products range from homemade apple gin, apple juice, and pear syrup made from our fresh fruit to locally produced coffee, mustard, and beer. These are the results of collaborations with local producers."
For more information:
Bert and Joke Morren
Fruitbedrijf Morren 
Groenstraat 6
3470 Kortenaken, Belgium
Tel: +32 474 76 46 69
[email protected]
www.streekproductenmorren.be