Family Lowet-Houben

In Schalkhoven, near Bilzen-Hoeselt, Jan and An Lowet-Houben grow apples and pears. Jan grew up among the fruit trees and is the third generation to run the family business. Since around 2006, Jan and An have continued to develop the farm together, with a focus on quality and a clear sense of origin.

In 2020, they made the deliberate switch to organic farming. It is a choice that reflects what matters to them: introducing people to Belgian fruit and showing them where it comes from. “With our fruit, we want people to taste what is grown here. By choosing local, you also support growers and fruit farming in your own region,” Jan and An explain.

For Jan, growing fruit is more than a job. It is a true passion. He gets a great deal of satisfaction from watching his fruit grow and from finding solutions when things do not go to plan. The weather, the growing process and getting the timing right can sometimes make the work challenging, but that is also what makes it interesting for him.

At the farm, Jan and An not only take care of their fruit, but also their guests. Alongside the fruit-growing business, they run a B&B. There, they enjoy telling visitors about their work and about the fruit growing around the B&B. It means a lot to them when guests go home with a greater appreciation for local products.

September is a special time for Jan and An. It marks the start of the harvest period, when all the work of the previous months comes together. It is their favourite time of year: at last, they can see the results of all the choices they made and the care they put in throughout the growing season.

At the same time, they keep looking ahead. Jan even designed an electric picking platform himself, which won him an innovation award. For him, innovation and forward thinking are essential to keep the business growing.

Their message to anyone buying fruit is simple: look at what is grown here. During blossom season, Jan and An welcome many visitors to their B&B. To them, this shows just how closely local fruit growing and the landscape are connected. In their view, choosing local fruit helps preserve both the landscapes filled with fruit trees and the fruit farms in the region.

And the apples themselves? They find their way to the table in many forms. Eaten fresh, used in a dish or made into juice: a familiar classic that Jan and An work on with care every day.