De Fruitboer
De Fruitboer is a family-owned fruit farm in South Limburg, Netherlands, selling ultra-fresh seasonal fruit (cherries, plums, pears, blueberries, plus juice and jam) directly to local consumers via a single seasonal on-farm stand called the fruithuisje.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersGronsveld, Netherlands
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What De Fruitboer does
De Fruitboer is a privately held family fruit farming business operating from Gronsveld in the South Limburg (Heuvelland) region of the Netherlands. The farm's roots trace to approximately 1900, when Thomas Broex's great-grandfather ran a mixed operation of livestock, arable farming, and high-stem fruit trees; in 1976, his father exited livestock and pivoted the business exclusively to fruit cultivation, the model that continues today. Core production takes place on the region's chalky (kalkgrond) hillside soils, where sunny days and cold nights are credited with producing fruit of distinctive flavor and color; cultivated varieties include cherries (kersen), plums (pruimen), pears (peren), blueberries (blauwe bessen), with seasonal availability of strawberries and raspberries. Sustainable agriculture practices include beekeeping for natural pollination, rainwater harvesting into basins, protective netting for cherry trees, and — as of 2024 — a precision spray machine with smart sensors and 99% drift reduction, partially funded by the European Union and the Province of Limburg under the European program for future-proof agriculture.
The business operates a direct-to-consumer model with no intermediaries, distributors, or retail partnerships. All sales occur through a single on-farm retail outlet called the 'fruithuisje' (fruit house), located in the fruit meadow along the Rijksweg between De Heeg and the roundabout at Gronsveld. The hut opens seasonally when the first cherries ripen, typically in June, and operates daily from 13:00 to 18:00 (and 11:00 to 18:00 on Saturdays) through the summer months. The assortment at the stand includes fresh whole fruit (cherries, plums, pears, blueberries, and seasonal strawberries/raspberries) plus value-added products — fruit juice (fruitsap) and jam — produced from on-farm fruit. Pricing is set at the point of sale based on weight/quantity and is not publicly disclosed.
Marketing and customer communication rely primarily on organic social media (Facebook and Instagram) used to announce opening hours and seasonal availability, supplemented by direct phone (06 - 25 06 66 23) and email ([email protected]) contact managed by owner Thomas Broex. There is no e-commerce, no mobile app, no API, and no third-party integrations. The customer base is composed entirely of local residents and regional visitors in South Limburg seeking ultra-fresh, locally-grown seasonal fruit; no B2B, wholesale, or institutional customers are disclosed. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.
De Fruitboer firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- De Fruitboer
- Legal name
- De Fruitboer
- Website
- https://defruitboer.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- De Fruitboer is a family-owned fruit farm in South Limburg, Netherlands, selling ultra-fresh seasonal fruit (cherries, plums, pears, blueberries, plus juice and jam) directly to local consumers via a single seasonal on-farm stand called the fruithuisje.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
De Fruitboer industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fresh Fruit Production
- NAICS
- Berry (except Strawberry) Farming (111334), Strawberry Farming (111333), Fruit and Tree Nut Farming (1113)
- SIC
- Agricultural Production-Crops (100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Berry Farming (Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Cranberries) (AFAGACAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Pome Fruit Orchards (Apples, Pears, Quinces) (AFAGACAB)
Keywords
Where De Fruitboer is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gronsveld
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
De Fruitboer business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Fresh Fruit Sales: Direct sales of fresh summer fruit (cherries, plums, pears, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries) from on-site farm stand. Sales are seasonal, concentrated in summer months when fruit ripens. Products sold include whole fruit for immediate consumption and possibly for processing (e.g., plums for plum pie).
- Fruit Products (Juice and Jam): Sales of processed fruit products including fruit juice and jam made from their produce, sold alongside fresh fruit at the farm stand.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
De Fruitboer product offering
Product offeringCore offering
De Fruitboer is a family fruit farm in South Limburg, Netherlands, that grows and sells ultra-fresh seasonal summer fruit (cherries, plums, pears, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries) directly to consumers from its on-site farm stand (fruithuisje). In addition to fresh fruit, the farm sells processed products including fruit juice and jam made from its own produce. Operations are seasonal, with the fruit stand typically open from June through the summer when fruit is ripe.
Product overview
De Fruitboer is a family fruit farming business in South Limburg, Netherlands, with origins dating back to around 1900. The core offering consists of fresh summer fruits grown on the region's characteristic chalky hillsides: cherries (kersen), plums (pruimen), pears (peren), and blueberries (blauwe bessen), with seasonal availability of strawberries and raspberries. These are sold through the on-farm fruit house (fruithuisje) along with value-added products including fruit juice (fruitsap) and jam. The farm practices sustainable agriculture, including extra flower planting for bees, rainwater collection, and cherry tree netting.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Kersen (Cherries) Sweet cherries grown on the South Limburg hills with chalky soil, sold fresh at the farm stand. The fruit's flavor and color come from the region's sunny days and cool nights, and the season typically begins in June when first cherries ripen.
- Pruimen (Plums) Plums cultivated in the chalky soil of South Limburg, sold fresh at the farm stand. Suitable for eating fresh or for use in traditional plum tarts (pruimenvlaai).
- Peren (Pears) Pears with a fresh bite, grown in the region's characteristic limestone soil and hilly landscape, sold at the farm stand.
- Blauwe Bessen (Blueberries) Blueberries promoted as a healthy snack, cultivated in South Limburg's fertile hills and sold fresh at the farm stand.
- Fruitsap (Fruit Juice) Fresh fruit juice made from the farm's seasonal fruits, sold alongside fresh fruit at the on-site fruit house.
- Jam Fruit jam prepared from the farm's produce, available at the on-site fruit house during the summer season.
- Fruithuisje (Farm Stand) On-farm retail outlet located in the fruit meadow along the Rijksweg between De Heeg and the Gronsveld roundabout, selling the day's harvest of fresh summer fruits (including strawberries and raspberries depending on daily availability), fruit juice, and jam. Open daily in the summer months from 13:00 to 18:00 and on Saturdays from 11:00 to 18:00, typically from June when the first cherries ripen.
Companies that use De Fruitboer
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
De Fruitboer technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
De Fruitboer partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
De Fruitboer competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- The Greenery: Major Dutch fresh-produce cooperative that packs, markets, and distributes fruit and vegetables from Dutch growers including stone fruit and berries. Comparable as the broad Dutch incumbent channel/packer operating in the same fresh-produce categories (cherries, berries, pears) that De Fruitboer grows, albeit at massive scale and via wholesale rather than farm-stand retail.
- Total Produce / Dole plc: Global fresh-produce major (Total Produce merged into Dole plc) sourcing and distributing fresh fruit including berries, stone fruit, and pears across Europe. Comparable as the broadest incumbent touching the same fresh-produce categories De Fruitboer grows, with European operations anchored in the Dutch/Belgian production belt.
- Greenyard: Belgian-headquartered global fresh, frozen, and prepared produce company supplying retailers and food-service across Europe. Comparable as a broad incumbent operating in fruit and vegetable sourcing/processing (including fresh fruit categories De Fruitboer grows), sitting in the same Dutch/Belgian supply-chain geography but at vastly greater scale.
Emerging players
- Special Fruit: Belgian specialty soft fruit, exotics, and seasonal produce supplier focused on berries, stone fruit, and niche categories. Comparable as an emerging player in the same fresh-berry and stone-fruit production/sourcing space De Fruitboer cultivates, with a more specialized, value-added positioning versus supermarkets.
Direct peers
- Appelse Buurman: Dutch family orchard selling apples and pears direct-to-consumer via a subscription model. Comparable to De Fruitboer as a small, family-run NL fruit producer with a direct relationship to end consumers and similar fresh, regional positioning (though Appelse Buurman is known for its apples/pears subscription rather than a seasonal farm stand).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
De Fruitboer social profiles
Digital presenceDe Fruitboer financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
De Fruitboer leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
De Fruitboer funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
De Fruitboer M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about De Fruitboer
What does De Fruitboer do?
De Fruitboer is a family fruit farm in South Limburg, Netherlands, that grows and sells ultra-fresh seasonal summer fruit (cherries, plums, pears, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries) directly to consumers from its on-site farm stand (fruithuisje). In addition to fresh fruit, the farm sells processed products including fruit juice and jam made from its own produce. Operations are seasonal, with the fruit stand typically open from June through the summer when fruit is ripe.
Is De Fruitboer a public or private company?
De Fruitboer is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was De Fruitboer founded?
De Fruitboer was founded in 1976. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is De Fruitboer based?
De Fruitboer is headquartered in Gronsveld, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does De Fruitboer make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Fresh Fruit Sales are the primary driver. The others are fruit Products (Juice and Jam).
Who are De Fruitboer's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are The Greenery, Total Produce / Dole plc and Greenyard. Special Fruit is listed as an emerging player. Appelse Buurman is listed as a direct peer.
Does De Fruitboer have an API?
No public API is recorded for De Fruitboer.
What industry is De Fruitboer in?
De Fruitboer's product category is Fresh Fruit Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAGACAD, Berry Farming (Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Cranberries), with a secondary code of AFAGACAB, Pome Fruit Orchards (Apples, Pears, Quinces). Its NAICS code is 111334 and its SIC code is 100.