All over Flanders, Belgium and even far abroad, Hoogstraten is known for its strawberries. Thinking about them is often enough to make your mouth water. Quite right too, because our full ripened strawberries give you the perfect balance between sour and sweet.
Our story began in 1933 with our strawberries and they are still our absolute top product. A few passionate people from the region were able to grow their passion for strawberries through the Cooperative into the quality brand that brings more than 30 million kilograms of strawberries to you every year.
It is the work of more than 180 family farmers who put all their knowledge and energy into our strawberries. By picking carefully, selecting correctly and presenting perfectly, they have helped make the worldwide fame of strawberries possible.
To guarantee our top quality at all times, we only pick our strawberries when they are completely red. Our growers use a meticulous technique that ensures that we do not damage the strawberries. To avoid pressure spots or damage to the strawberry, we don't pull the strawberries off their stems, but twist them. Of course, this means that growing strawberries requires a lot of work, but fortunately, all our growers treat our strawberries with love.
Strawberries are available 365 days a year. Cultivation types alternate: exposed winter cultivation, heated greenhouses, plastic tunnels, open air,.... But taste and quality remain consistently high.
The color and flavor nuances of our strawberries vary from variety to variety. But always they are shiny red, flawless and juicy. The main variety is still Elsanta. Elsanta strongly dominates the offer, but it is not the only variety we offer. Other varieties are also profiling themselves more and more as full-fledged varieties including Sonata, Sonsation, Limalexia and to a limited extent on-bearer Murano.
For research and development, we work closely with Proefcentrum Hoogstraten, which conducts scientific and practical research into strawberries, tomatoes and bell peppers. It also provides advice and training for growers. For instance, every year new strawberry varieties are tested at the cultivation companies under the supervision of the test centre.
From summer to winter: Hoogstraten Strawberries are available 365 days a year. This is because different cultivation types alternate according to the season: exposed winter cultivation, heated greenhouses, plastic tunnels, open air,... Whichever cultivation method: taste and quality remain consistently high. As a result, you can enjoy juicy and flavorful strawberries all year round.
An additional reason why strawberries beckon in stores from summer to winter is because different varieties of strawberries are grown. The main variety is Elsanta. Other varieties include: Sonata, Sonsation, Aurora Karima, Lady Emma and Murano. The color and flavor nuances of the strawberries vary from variety to variety. But always they are glossy red, flawless, juicy and the view alone makes your mouth water! In cooperation with the Research Center Hoogstraten, the company invests in research and development so that Coöperatie Hoogstraten can determine the best variety for each season. Growers can go there for advice and training on varieties and cultivation methods so that they can guarantee top quality all year round.
In terms of quality, four categories are distinguished based on external characteristics. From Golden Dubbel Extra (EE) to Extra (E) and Extra Direct (ED). It is the cooperative's experienced inspectors who determine the quality. Retailers, exporters and consumers can sleep on both ears: all strawberries from Coöperatie Hoogstraten are top quality.
Hoogstraten strawberries of extra quality are classified into 4 categories: GOLD, Double Extra (EE), Extra (E) and Extra Direct (ED). This classification is based on the external characteristics of the strawberries. Overview of the categories:
GOLD
EE
E
ED
Hoogstraten strawberry grower
Jef Ryvers
Hoogstraten strawberries are inspected and classified into uniform quality blocks. A distinction is made between shelf cultivation, open field cultivation and everbearers. Each can be recognised by its own box (Tabletop, Openfield, Everbearer). After cooling, the strawberries are offered for sale via simultaneous clock sales, together with similar products from other Flemish cooperatives.
Cut strawberries lose their sweet taste faster? So be sure to leave the stalk on the strawberry when you wash them for eating. If you remove the crown before washing, the strawberry will absorb water like a sponge, and your strawberry will lose its brilliant flavour. A shame, right?
Wondering where your strawberries come from? It's easy to find out! On each of our strawberry tins, you'll find a unique QR code or unique tracking number. The QR code is easy to scan with your smartphone's camera. Don't have a smartphone? Then enter the tracing code online. That way, you'll immediately know how your strawberries - after a stopover at the auction - found their way to your home.
Cut strawberries lose their sweet taste faster? So be sure to leave the stalk on the strawberry when you wash them for eating. If you remove the crown before washing, the strawberry will absorb water like a sponge, and your strawberry will lose its brilliant flavour. A shame, right?
Tasty Hoogstraten strawberries are available all year round. Even in the cold winter months. This is possible because our growers can place their strawberry plants in storage at Coöperatie Hoogstraten . The plants spend their prolonged winter rest there, so that we can spread the cultivation. In addition, an innovative cultivation technique under lighting, the extensive knowledge and unbridled enthusiasm are the ingredients for this unique product.
To ensure that you can enjoy sweet and healthy strawberries all year round, we work with no fewer than 180 passionate growers. Our 'sweet family' gets up at the crack of dawn to look after all the strawberry plants with patience and precision. Our growers in Belgium and the Netherlands work towards a common goal: to cultivate healthy strawberries for you, that are exceptionally tasty and, on top of that, are grown with respect for our nature.
We guarantee quality.
