Family Jacques

Gino Jacques, father of three and a true family man, is also a young and driven grower of apples and pears. Gino runs the business together with his father and is completely devoted to apples and pears: “I grew up among apple trees. I used to ride along on the tractor with my grandfather, and now I proudly grow BelOrta apples and pears. You could easily call me Belgium’s largest hard fruit producer.”

According to Gino, there are many different types of apples and pears. Some require a bit more care and attention than others. Growing Kanzi apples, for example, takes a lot of effort. But that doesn’t bother Gino — quite the opposite. As he enjoys a freshly picked Kanzi, he explains more: “Apple trees get their energy from water and sunlight. We constantly check that there aren’t too many apples on a single tree, because then the tree grows too quickly. And that’s bad for the growth of the Kanzi itself.” It’s clear that all the love he puts into his work really pays off. “Harvesting perfect apples and pears — that’s what I do it all for,” he smiles.

Gino was also the first apple and pear grower in Belgium to introduce a leaf blower machine. This machine moves slowly between the tree rows and literally blows away part of the leaves. A clever move, as it turns out. “This way, the apples and pears get more direct sunlight,” he explains. “That speeds up the ripening process and ensures nicely coloured apples and pears. The quicker the fruit ripens, the sooner you can enjoy it at its very best.”

© Mine Dalemans - ID/photo agency & ALDI