Little Apples of Orange

August and September mark the start of something special—the harvest of the new Dutch apples. It's a moment we always look forward to. Our grower Dirk de Jong can once again deliver the freshest and tastiest apples and pears. A new harvest of this traditional Dutch fruit makes us truly happy at Van Gelder.

They arrive fresh every day from our grower Dirk de Jong in Leerbroek. He cultivates traditional apple and pear varieties in this small village of barely 1,600 inhabitants. His orchards are located on the border of South Holland and Gelderland and are harvested by hand. “They are hand-picked, inspected, and sorted,” says De Jong. The apples are washed and then hand-packed as well. “This prevents bruising and also allows for visual inspection,” explains the co-owner of the growing company.

“Traditional and truly Dutch—just like the apple itself,” says De Jong. “This is how we grow varieties such as Elstar, Jonagold, Braeburn, and Golden Delicious.”