Family Royakkers

The 62-year-old Willy Royakkers is a true expert in his field. Growing fruit has been his dream since childhood. That dream came true in 1986, when he joined the family business in Kinrooi alongside his brother Jan. In 2016, Willy began a new chapter and started his own business in Nazareth.

A focus on quality and control

Although he used to grow strawberries and raspberries as well, he decided to focus entirely on Bestum blackberries to ensure the very best quality. He grows them with great care and dedication across his 4.2-hectare site, from 1 May to 15 December.

His secret ingredient? Control. According to Willy, it is vital to keep a close eye on your plants at all times and act quickly. “It is just like with people. When someone is only slightly ill, you can still help them. But you need to react quickly,” he explains.

Working with BelOrta

For Willy, working with BelOrta offers real added value. BelOrta is not only open to new ideas, but also actively engages with him and genuinely listens to his experiences. This builds trust and creates opportunities to take innovative steps together.

Thanks to this partnership, a new blackberry variety was launched this year. This unique product allows Willy to offer his customers something they cannot find anywhere else. It gives him an important advantage in competing more effectively with foreign producers, who often operate with lower labour costs. In this way, he and BelOrta are building a sustainable future for his business and the sector.

The grower’s tip

Finally, Willy has a top tip for anyone wanting to enjoy his blackberries: let them come to room temperature and eat them within a few days. That is when they taste their very best.

Or try his personal favourite: a milkshake made with five blackberries, 70 to 80 ml of milk and three scoops of ice cream. Enjoy!

Did you know?

Did you know that Willy has a very different passion outside work? In his spare time, he takes to the dance floor every week for ballroom dancing. Tango, rumba, quickstep... Willy loves every minute of it.