The Dutch Royal couple encountered a first during their visit to FruitMasters last Wednesday. During a tour of the company a new packaging machine was taken into use. The machine packages Kanzi apples in a handy carton tray with a lid and is fully recyclable. Queen Máxima received the first circular fruit packaging.
Leonard Kampschöer hands the first circular packaging to Queen Máxima
The Royals' visit to FruitMasters was part of a regional visit to the Betuwe. In the municipality of West Betuwe the Royal couple visited the testing garden and the sorting and packaging station for apples at FruitMasters.
Queen Máxima and King Willem-Alexander spoke to young fruit growers about the future of the Dutch fruit cultivation between the fruit trees.
Four young fruit growers prior to speaking to the Royal couple
The Royal couple spoke to cooperation De Fruitmotor about circular fruit cultivation.
10 to 15 percent of apples aren't suitable for consumption. These apples are bought for a set price by De Fruitmotor and processed into cider. A share of the profit goes to a biodiversity fund.
The cooperation De Fruitmotor team prior to the visit
The team that spoke about housing for labour migrants
By their own request the Royal couple delved into the issue of housing for labour migrants. The director of Flexibel Workforce VDU plead for customised houses for labour migrants. Two experts spoke about their experiences. There isn't enough housing available, which means that labour migrants often share kitchens and bathrooms and have very little privacy during the months that they are in the Netherlands.
Students of Helicon MBO Geldermalsen and Avans Hogeschool Den Bosch gave a demonstration with drones in the orchard.
In the FruitMasters packaging station the Royal couple was given a tour and talk about the steps the company has taken in the area of packaging: from manual work to mechanical sorting and packaging.
"FruitMasters is celebrating its 115th birthday this year. Since our founding in 1904 we have been at the head of the market as specialists in top and soft fruit, but also in the area of sustainability," says general director Kees de Kat.
The Kanzi apple plastic packaging is now making way for a sustainable mono-concept: a handy carton tray with a lid that is fully recyclable. The fruit stickers on the Kanzi apples are also completely compostable and can be put in food waste with the core. The Kanzi apples are also grown according to the norms of the independent sustainability brand On the way to Planetproof.
FruitMasters management talking to the Royal couple
FruitMasters managers Kees de Kat, Leonard Kampschöer, Jan Verkooijen and Sjors Kruiper
FruitMasters and West Betuwe muncipality workers
The Royal couple receives an insect hotel from the acting mayor of West Betuwe Harry Keereweer
With this Conference packaging, FruitMasters is focusing on the Chinese market. The windmills on the boxes gain the trust of the Chinese.
Hans Sengers, commerical manager of retail at FruitMasters
The Royal couple in the orchard of the testing garden at FruitMasters, photo by Nico Alsemgeest