Belorta

Who's behind it

Belorta is a Belgian cooperative that bundles and sells the harvest of about 1,200 growers through the auction. The group was formed in 2013 from the merger of Coöbra and the Mechelen Auctions; a year later, Veiling Borgloon joined, and in 2023, the Belgian Fruit Auction was integrated. The company operates from multiple locations, with headquarters in Sint-Katelijne-Waver and auctions in Mechelen and Borgloon, among others.

In 2024, Belorta turned over record revenue of 665 million euros, a growth of 7 percent. Vegetables accounted for 61 percent of that revenue, fruit for 39 percent. From just one crop, cucumber, nearly 180 million units went across the clock. This makes Belorta Europe's largest vegetable and fruit cooperative.

Owned by the growers

The cooperative is one hundred percent owned by the growers themselves. As co-owners they steer the choices: a bundled range and a price set daily at the auction.

For you as a chef that means breadth, from field vegetables to greenhouse vegetables and from hard fruit to forgotten varieties under the BelOblita label. The origin is also traceable. Every batch comes from a known grower, with quality labels like Flandria for vegetables. Belorta steers on flavor; the Baron beef tomato was chosen for its structure and fresh, sweet taste.

In your kitchen

Put the Belgian origin on the menu: a grower cooperative, auctioned in the region around Mechelen and Borgloon. Work with the season, because an auction follows the harvest.

Start with the beef tomato. Stuff it, grill it or cut it thick for a salad; it holds its shape. Build a changing seasonal board of Belgian vegetables and fruit around it that moves with the harvest.