Apples and pears are the most important organic fruit crops in the Netherlands. Smaller crops, such as berries and grapes for wine production are up and coming. Around 50% of the total Dutch organic fruit production is exported. To be able to facilitate organic fruit growers, Wageningen UR and the Louis Bolk Institute carry out a variety of research aimed specifically at organic fruit production. Hot topics are the prevention and control of scab and black rot and the development of new varieties.

The report contains sector facts, sector aspirations, current affairs and research projects

Maas, van der, Rien

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Organic Eprints

Fruit	 AspirationsThe Dutch organic fruit sector aims to remain the most sustainable fruit producing sector in terms of economics, environment and societal aspects. The sector wants to produce fruit that is more disease-resistant and is easily discernable by consumers. Preventative measures against pests and diseases and attention for the smaller fruit sectors and wine production are also important. The organic fruit sector has a tradition of developing knowledge on real-life fruit farms, supported by consultants and researchers.February	2011Organic	fruit	production	in	the	NetherlandsApples and pears are the most important organic fruit crops in the Netherlands. Smaller crops, such as berries and grapes for wine production are up and coming. Around 50% of the total Dutch organic fruit production is exported. To be able to facilitate organic fruit growers, Wageningen UR and the Louis Bolk Institute carry out a variety of research aimed specifically at organic fruit production. Hot topics are the prevention and control of scab and black rot and the development of new varieties.Dutch	fruit	sectorEarly	2009	there	were	about	35	organic	fruit	growers	in	the	Netherlands.	Apples	and	pears	are	the	most	important	organic	fruit	crops,	with	244	and	93	hectares	respectively.	The	production	of	small	soft	fruits	such	as	currants,	berries	and	brambles	is	on	the	rise	(114	hectares).	A	much	smaller	acreage	is	dedicated	to	organic	cherries	and	plums.	Around	50%	of	the	total	Dutch	organic	fruit	production	is	exported.The	domestic	market	for	organic	fruit	grew	by	5,1%	in	2009,	grossing	€ 26,3	million.	Compared	to	neighbouring	countries,	these	figures	are	relatively	low.	Over	half	of	all	organic	fruit	is	sold	in	supermarkets.Organic	Knowledge	UpdateOrganic Knowledge UpdateCurrent	affairsApples	and	pears	are	by	far	the	most	important	Dutch	organic	fruit	crops.	Smaller	crops,	such	as	berries	and	wine	production	are	up	and	coming,	but	do	not	have	a	large	production	yet.Emphasis	will	continue	to	lie	on	the	pre-	vention	and	control	of	the	main	diseases	in	apples	and	pears:	scab	and	black	rot.	As	copper	products	cannot	be	used,	and	most	other	products	are	relatively	weak,	much	is	expected	of	new	scab-resistant	apple	varieties.	In	recent	years	a	few	of	these	varieties	have	already	been	devel-oped	an	brought	to	market.	This	process	is	complex	and	much	can	still	be	improved	and	learned.	Organic	apple	growers	from	The	Netherlands	will	participate	in	apilot	with	German	growers	to	evaluate	a	new	scab	resistant	and	powdery	mildew	tolerant	apple	cultivar.	In	recent	years	research	for	the	organic	fruit	sector	also	focuses	on	the	effective	use	of	new	bio-logical	products	against	scab.Dutch	wineries	provide	a	relatively	new	field	of	research.	To	improve	wine	produc-tion	and	quality,	vine	varieties	that	are	suitable	to	Dutch	circumstances	need	to	be	developed	and	tested.The Dutch wine sector is small but growingSantana apples are non-allergenicFruit•		 Product quality in the organic fruit supply chain	Opportunities	for	scab-free	apple	varieties	are	plentiful	if	appearance	andshelf	life	of	these	varieties	improves.	Developing	quality	control	tools	and	researching	measures	to	improve	storage	are	part	of	this	project.	Contact: Frank Schoorl, Frank.Schoorl@wur.nl•		 New organic fruit cultivars	This	project	aims	to	develop	new	cultivars,	specifically	developed	for	organic	production.Contact: Rien van der Maas MSc, Rien.vanderMaas@wur.nl•		 Controlling replant disease	This	research	project	develops	non-chemical	control	measures	against	replant	disease	in	organic	apples,	caused	by	Pratylenchus	penetrans.	Contact: Marcel Wenneker MSc, Marcel.Wenneker@wur.nl•	  System innovation in organic pear-production for scab prevention	Prevention	of	scab	in	organic	orchards	through	better	(novel)	management	practices	with	the	aim	to	reduce	dependency	on	phytotoxic	plant	protection	products.	Conference	and	Concorde	varieties	are	looked	into.	Contact: Bart Timmermans, B.Timmermans@louisbolk.nl•		 New products to control scab in apples and pears	This	project	aims	to	develop	new	products	for	controlling	scab	in	applesand	pears.	For	pears,	potassium	bicarbonate	will	be	looked	into.	Contact: Peter Frans de Jong, Peterfrans.deJong@wur.nl•		 Organic cultivation of small fruits	The	organic	production	of	small	fruits	such	as	red	currants,	brambles	and	raspberriesencounters	its	own	specific	problems.	This	project	aims	to	improve	biological	control	of	the	main	diseases	in	these	fruits	and	to	develop	more	knowledge	on	these	diseases.	Contact: Marcel Wenneker MSc, Marcel.Wenneker@wur.nl•	  Vinification of new grapevine cultivars	Knowledge	on	vinification	of	new	cultivars	in	the	Netherlands	is	limited.	This	projectaims	to	fill	the	gap	and	develop	guidelines	for	vinification	of	both	new	and	old	cultivars,	under	Dutch	growing	conditions.	Contact: Rien van der Maas MSc, Rien.vanderMaas@wur.nl•		 Choosing the right cultivars and vines This	project	helps	organic	wine	farmers	in	choosing	the	right	cultivars	for	thecircumstances	on	their	farms.	This	helps	improve	Dutch	organic	wine	quality.	Contact: Dr. Frank Maas, Frank.Maas@wur.nl•		 Testing a warning system against downy mildew in organic grape cultivation	Since	copper	is	not	allowed	in	Dutch	organic	production,	downy	mildew	can	only	be	fought	with	relatively	weak	products.	Using	a	warning	system	to	find	infestations	at	an	early	stage	may	help.	Contact: Dr. Bart Heijne, Bart.Heijne@wur.nl•	  Thinning of apples and pears	This	project	looks	at	the	possibilities	of	mechanical	thinning	in	apple	and	pear	trees.Contact: Bart Timmermans, B.Timmermans@louisbolk.nlResearch projectsOrganic fruit growers meet on a regular basis to exchange experiences•		 Maas,	M.P .	van	der.	2007.	Increasing	high	quality	production	of	organically	grown	apples	through	a	system’s	approach	including	management	of	VF	Scab	resistance.	Acta	Hort.	(ISHS)	737:105	 -112.•		 Köhl,	J.	2007.	Replacement	of	copper	fungicides	in	organic	production	of	grapevine	and	apple	in	Europe:	publishable	final	activity	report.	Plant	Research	International,	Wageningen	UR.•		 Maas,	M.P .	van	der	and	M.F.	Schenk.	2009.	Development	of	a	protocol	that	allows	safe	consumption	of	the	hypoallergenic	apple	cultivar	Santana.	Acta	Hort.	(ISHS)	841:549	 -552.•		 	 Martijn	F.	Schenk,	Marinus	P .	van	der	Maas,	Marinus	J.M.	Smulders,	Luud	J.W.J.	Gilissen,	Arnout	R.H.	Fischer,	Ivo	A.	van	der	Lans,	Evert	Jacobsen,	Lynn	J.	Frewer.	2011.	Consumer	attitudes	towards	hypoallergenic	apples	that	alleviate	mild	apple	allergy.	Food	Quality	and	Preference	22	(2011)	83	 -91.•		 	 Maas,	M.P .	van	der,	M.C.J.	op	’t	Hof	and	F.G	van	de	Geijn.	2008.	Extendingstorage	period	of	organically	grown	apple	cultivar	“Topaz”.	Poster.	Applied	Plant	Research,	Wageningen	UR.Literature	Bioconnect aims to further develop and strengthen the Dutch organic sector by initiating and implementing research projects. Within Bioconnect organic entrepreneurs (from farmers to shop-keepers) work together with research institutes, colleges and universities and consultancy organisations. This leads to demand-driven research that is unique to the Netherlands.The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation sponsors these research projects.Wageningen UR (University & Research centre) and the Louis Bolk Institute together carry out these research projects. About 140 projects dedicated to organic agriculture are currently under way.ContactContact: Rien van der Maase-mail: Rien.vanderMaas@wur.nltelephone: +31 488 473 728www.organicholland.comEditing / Design / ProductionWageningen UR, Communication Servicese-mail: info@biokennis.nltelephone: +31 317 482 515The innovation network of organic agricultural chainsConference is the most common pear variety in the NetherlandsNew varieties come with new problems: Topaz apples may develop so-called Topaz spots

Organic fruit production in

the Netherlands

Brochure met informatie over de biologische fruitteelt in Nederland; algemene informatie, actuele onderwerpen en lopende onderzoeksprojecten

Organic fruit production in the Netherlands

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