Strawberries
Irresistibly delicious!
Strawberries are loved by young and old. They are sweet and juicy and have a delicious aroma. Strawberries are full of fibre, vitamins and minerals; nutrients for good health. Moreover, they are low in calories, a healthy snack! We grow strawberries all year round. From May to October in outdoor cultivation and in the other months in the greenhouse. Enjoy this beautiful red fruit whenever you want!
The best care for tasty and healthy fruit
We harvest our strawberries when they are beautifully red and ripe. Only the best quality is selected. After harvesting, the strawberries are immediately cooled and packed. Our farms comply with the strictest standards and are certified Global Gap and FSSC. We grow various varieties of strawberries such as the Magnum, Sonata and Murano. In our test garden we are always looking for new varieties with an ultimate taste to provide you with the most delicious fruit.
Our growers
We grow our strawberries at several locations in Brabant. For an overview of our fields and greenhouses, please visit our contact page. All strawberries are cooled and packed at our own locations until they are transported to Albert Heijn. This is how we monitor quality!
Where can you buy our strawberries?
Our strawberries have been sold on the shelves of Albert Heijn supermarkets for more than 35 years. And we are proud of that! You can find our strawberries at supermarkets all over the Netherlands. You can read where your strawberries come from on the packaging. The code on the packaging enables us to trace the strawberries back to the plot where they were harvested! Would you like to know more about your fruit? We will be happy to answer your questions!
From plant to strawberry
We at Genson have the entire process from plant propagation to the delivery of a box of strawberries ready for the shelf in our own hands. With passion, craftsmanship and innovation, our people grow the most tasty strawberries. We do this in a sustainable way with care and attention for our natural environment.
Cultivation
Cultivation starts with healthy plants which we propagate in our aphid-free greenhouses. We grow various varieties and types of plants. In the open field the plants are planted from early spring on racks on a substrate of wood fiber and peat. In the greenhouse we plant the first plants in summer. The plants are automatically supplied with water and fertilizer through drip hoses.
Crop protection
Our plants grow protected in tunnels, under rain caps or in greenhouses. As a result, the weather has less influence on the crop and we can use biological agents to repel harmful insects. In addition, non-organic crop protection agents are used to control other diseases. The MRL (maximum residue limit) is the legally permitted maximum residue of a substance in or on food. Our standards are at least 50% below this legal standard. That's really carefree enjoyment of our strawberries!
Bees and bumblebees
Before strawberries grow on the plant we need the help of the bee or bumblebee. As soon as the plant is in bloom the bees and bumblebees start working. Flower by flower is pollinated so fertilization takes place. As soon as a flower is well pollinated, the white petals fall off and the fruit starts to grow. First the strawberry is green, then white and finally the strawberry gets its beautiful red color.
Harvest
In the open field the first strawberries are harvested around mid-May. Depending on the weather, we harvest here until the beginning of October. The production in the greenhouse is then in full swing, so that we can also deliver strawberries in the remaining months. Because we grow on racks, our employees can pick the fruit while standing. Only the best quality, beautiful red and ripe fruit is selected. The 2nd class fruit is used in juices, jams, smoothies and ice cream. In addition, a part of the fruit with an imperfection is processed in ODAVI. Liqueur, bubbles, gin and low-gin based on strawberry and raspberry. Check out the website for more information https://odavi.nl/
Packing
Our new packaging hall meets all hygiene requirements. The strawberries are weighed and checked here. Subsequently, the tray is provided with a foil with an imprint on it on which the origin and the best-before date can be read. In addition, a code is printed so that the strawberries can be traced. After packaging, the strawberries are immediately placed in the refrigerator after which they are picked up from our premises within 1 day for delivery at Albert Heijn.
Transport
The strawberries are picked up the same day or the next day by Bakker Barendrecht and delivered to Albert Heijn. Bakker Barendrecht is the buyer of fruit and vegetables for Albert Heijn. Close consultation with Bakker ensures that supply and demand are matched as much as possible. So you are assured of the freshest fruit.