Coöperatie Hoogstraten is located in the north of Belgium and is known for selling more than 30 million kg of strawberries a year, all under the familiar Hoogstraten label. Our growers come mainly from the Hoogstraten region, but also from just across the border in the Netherlands. In addition, a number of producers from the Waasland region (including Beveren, Haasdonk, Melsele) also market their strawberries through CoöperatieHoogstraten. What all these strawberries have in common is that they are grown with care according to the strict quality standards of the Hoogstraten hallmark. So as a consumer you are always assured of fresh strawberries of top quality.
Hoogstraten Strawberries are not sold as organic. That does not mean that our growers do not make every effort to produce as organically as possible. To do so, they apply the principles of integrated crop management (IPM). This means that they opt for prevention, monitoring and observation and only intervene with plant protection products where and when necessary. In the first instance, they opt for natural pest control, e.g., predatory mites that eliminate harmful insects. Despite all good care, no crop is immune from pests, diseases or weeds. In determining the appropriate treatment, the grower starts combining different techniques into one. Just what is needed to guarantee fruit quality and limit ecological and economic damage.
It depends on the grower and the season. Strawberries are available all year round. Cultivation types alternate: exposed winter cultivation, heated greenhouses, plastic tunnels, open air ... But taste and quality remain constant priorities.
There are several varieties of strawberries. The color and flavor nuances of the strawberries vary from variety to variety, but they are always shiny red, flawless, juicy and the view alone makes your mouth water! In cooperation with the Research Center Hoogstraten, there is continuous investment in research and development so that Coöperatie Hoogstraten and its growers can select the best varieties that meet the high quality requirements. Among other things, growers can visit the trial center for advice and training on varieties and cultivation methods so that they can guarantee top quality all year round.
If you don't want to use strawberries right away, remove them from their containers and place them in a colander. This will allow air to circulate around them. Then place the colander in the refrigerator's vegetable drawer. Another option is to spread the strawberries out on kitchen paper and store them that way in the refrigerator. In either case, they will keep this way for another two to three days. Tip: Take the strawberries out of the refrigerator half an hour before using them so they come to room temperature. This way you will enjoy the optimal taste and smell and have the best taste experience!
You can also freeze strawberries, but only if you want to make them into jam, syrup or coulis. This is because thawed strawberries lose their beautiful color, texture and appearance.
From summer to winter: Hoogstraten Strawberries are available 365 days a year. This is because different cultivation types alternate throughout the year: exposed winter cultivation, heated greenhouses, plastic tunnels, open air... Whichever cultivation method: flavor and quality remain consistently high. As a result, you can enjoy juicy and flavorful strawberries all year round. Nevertheless, there are some peak months associated with these fruits. For example, strawberries are available in large quantities from April to June.
The crown has a bitter taste like that of spinach, a surprising contrast to the sweet fruit itself! World-renowned Michelin-starred pastry chef Roger van Damme advocates simply eating the crown with it. He says, "Leave the crown on!"
Hoogstraten Strawberries are best eaten as pure as possible. There is no need to add sugar: the fruit is already sweet and flavorful enough! When the strawberry hangs from the plant, the sugars sink down due to gravity. Because of this, the tip of the fruit is the sweetest. If you eat them from the tip to the crown, the flavors blend best and you can enjoy a balanced mix between sweet and sour. In addition, you can serve strawberries perfectly
Hoogstraten Strawberries can safely be eaten unwashed. Would you still like to wash them before consumption? Then make sure you leave the crown on. Otherwise the strawberry will absorb water like a sponge and may lose its delicious taste. A shame, right? Furthermore, it is best not to use too much water. Immersing the strawberry briefly in a little water is more than enough to rinse it.
It is often thought that the biggest strawberries are the tastiest and sweetest anyway, but this is not always true.At the end of a crop, smaller strawberries are regularly harvested that are also very sweet. So don't just walk past the smaller fruits in the store. They are ideal as a healthy snack for children or perfect for making a delicious Hoogstraten jam. Check out our recipe page for a delicious but simple preparation of strawberry jam by none other than Roger van Damme.
Well, this shiny red fruit is rich in vitamin C (49.0 mg/100 g - 61% RDA) and also contains a low energy value (36 kcal/100 g). So this certainly makes it a healthy snack for diabetics as well. All good for you!
The packaging distinguishes between the different cultivation methods used by our growers (rack cultivation, open-air cultivation and pass-through cultivation). Each type is recognizable by its own packaging. The strawberries from rack cultivation can be recognized by the packaging with an eggplant band, the open-air cultivation can be recognized by the packaging with green band or the packaging with the flowers and bees. Finally, there is the packaging for through-bearers with an ochre yellow band. Besides the standard packaging, for the absolute top quality of Hoogstraten Aardbeien there is the 'Gold' packaging which can be recognized by the little crown on the punnet.
We guarantee quality.
