The fruit and vegetable auction in Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium, may look like a space mission control centre, but it s actually one of the most major auctions of its kind in Europe.
Every day up to 4000 tons of fresh produce are sold there. Fruit and vegetables grown by over a thousand farmers travel to its warehouses to then end up on our plates.
The farmers that sell in Sint-Katelijne-Waver are all part of the BelOrta network, one of Europe s largest fruit and vegetable selling cooperatives.
The BelOrta fruit and vegetable auctionSint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium
The organisation has strict production procedures to ensure good quality standards and prices. For growers, sustainable production also means a fair income.
In Sint-Katelijne-Waver in Belgium, the BelOrta auction room sells 490 000 tons of fruit and vegetables every year. It s one of Europe s major fruit and veg auction houses and BelOrta is also one of the largest fruit and vegetable cooperatives. Over 1000 farmers work with the association.
Its turnover last year was 480 000 000 euros. This financial success is linked to quality produce from sustainable agriculture and trust between growers, buyers and clients.
How the auction works
The sales take place using six auction clocks , which display the name of the product, its quality and the price for potential buyers. The first buyer to signal his or her intention to purchase the produce closes the transaction. The BelOrta clock is sometimes referred to as the barometer of the international trade of fresh fruit and vegetables.