De Fruitmotor – circular fruit cultivation
The Dutch cooperative Betuwse Fruitmotor works with every partner in the supply chain, including local fruit growers and customers, to create an economy without waste, by transforming surplus fruit from the Betuwe region into high-end regional products.
"The Fruitmotor transforms surplus apples into high-quality ciders."
Supporting local biodiversity and products
The Fruitmotor works with the traditional growers, and by adding value to their surplus fruit, the growers receive a true price which enables them to invest in sustaining their traditional orchard. The growers have committed themselves to invest the earnings in hedges and flower borders that are attractive to wild bees, thereby increasing biodiversity.
The Fruitmotor buys apples from local fruit cultivators in the Betuwse, who are also members of the cooperative. The fruits are not perfectly shaped, but still, taste good. With these apples, the regional winemaker produces regular apple cider and non-alcoholic sparkling apple cider. The ciders are sold in the area and beyond as a regional product called Betuwse Krenkelaar. As of 2017, this scheme has resulted in the transformation of 20 tons of surplus fruits.
