Limburg regional products at Paris Olympics

In conversation with Frank van Eerd Bishop's Mill and Susanne Görtz Fruit Farm

Written by: Marloes Beurskens

That the Regional Food System Limburg (RVS-LB) plays a crucial role in connecting, intertwining and selling producers, processors, partners and relationships so that Limburg Regional Products get a stage is a given. And that stage was given to regional products at and during the Paris Olympics! RVS-LB is immensely proud of the result!

During the Paris Olympics, Limburg regional products played a special role in the diet of the Dutch athletes. We speak with Frank van Eerd, owner of the Bisschopsmolen in Maastricht and partner, producer and processor of the Regional Food System Limburg (RVS-LB), and Susanne Görtz of the Fruit Farm, who together with the Bemelerhof are "responsible" for the production of the unique Limburg cherry juice. This juice, derived from local morels, became a favorite among KNWU Olympic athletes.

Frank van Eerd: initiator of Limburg cherry juice for athletes: "Nutrition makes all the difference"

Frank van Eerd has been involved in promoting Limburg regional products for many years. As initiator of among other things the Limburg cherry juice, also for Team Visma - lease a Bike and in cooperation with this team, the Apple Lemon bars have been developed for the Olympic athletes. The cherry cake tarts went to Paris via Papendal. Van Eerd knows better than anyone how important good nutrients are for delivering top performance. "We always look at the right ratio of macro ingredients, proteins, fats and carbohydrates. We wanted to do something unique for the Olympic athletes. Something that not only comes from Limburg, but actually contributes to their performance. The sour cherry, also known as morel, is known for its health benefits, such as promoting muscle recovery and reducing inflammation. We worked with RVS-LB to develop a cherry juice that retains these properties and is also deliciously sour, fresh-tasting."

This cherry juice was popular with athletes, including Marianne Vos, who enjoyed a bottle of this Limburg specialty after her silver medal at the Olympics. Van Eerd is visibly proud: "The fact that a top athlete like Vos appreciates our cherry juice is the ultimate confirmation for us that we are on the right track. The idea was to offer something that not only tastes good, but also actually contributes to the athletes' recovery and performance," Van Eerd says. The morels for this juice came from Susanne Görtz's Fruit Farm and the Bemelerhof, where they were also bottled.

Susanne Görtz: "Local cultivation is invaluable"

The morels used for this cherry juice come from the orchards of the Fruit Farm and from the Bemelerhof. Görtz says: "It is fantastic to see how a local product like our cherries is appreciated worldwide. For bakers, 5 liter cans are made, it's all about the taste and it has to be tiptop. The flans must be tasty and look nice. From part of the harvest, jars of cherries are made for consumers so consumers can bake their own (we don't supply them, the factory makes and sells them under its own labels). And juice manufacturers also make cherry juice from our cherries under their own label. But cherry production in the Netherlands is under severe pressure. Due to bad policies and strict regulations, many farmers have uprooted their cherry trees. This is worrying, because it affects not only agriculture, but also the landscape and tourism here in Limburg." Görtz is clear about the consequences of the current policy: "The minister has determined that a certain pesticide can only be used against the fruit fly once every three years, but this is unworkable. Because there are no good alternatives, almost the entire crop was lost this year. If we want to preserve the cherry in Limburg, something has to change. We are committed to sustainable solutions, but we also need support from politicians."

Future opportunities and challenges

Despite the challenges, Van Eerd and Görtz also see opportunities. Demand for Limburg cherry juice is increasing, especially from the sports world. "The Limburg Cycling Team will also use our cherry juice during the Paralympic Games, which start on Aug. 25. In addition, research is being conducted in Venlo into the health benefits of sour cherries, specifically focused on muscle recovery and anti-inflammation," Van Eerd said.

Then there are obstacles: "Due to the poor harvest this year, caused by the fruit fly, we don't have enough morels to meet demand. That means we now have to get cherries from Switzerland, which of course is not preferable. What matters is that we can preserve the Limburg cherry and we need everyone to do that," Van Eerd stressed. "Maybe we can press juice from other cherry varieties or further diversify production. So many cyclists come to Limburg, and there are also opportunities in elder care. We have to keep looking for solutions."

Van Eerd: "So we made cherry tarts for Team Visma - lease a Bike and 4,000 of those tarts went along to the Olympics. The Royal Family also enjoyed our spelt bread. In addition, we made several energy bars packed with flavor. This shows how valuable and nutritious our Limburg regional products are."

Call to politicians: Preserve the Limburg cherry!

Both Van Eerd and Görtz are making an urgent appeal to politicians to review the policy surrounding cherry growing. "The Limburg cherry is of great importance, not only for agriculture but also for tourism and the local economy. We must work together to preserve this unique fruit," Görtz said. "If the sour cherry disappears, it affects the heart of Limburg."

The Future: Pure Nutrition and Transparency

The future of Limburg regional products looks promising, provided the right steps are taken. Van Eerd concludes, "It's not just about labels, but also about transparency and trust. Consumers need to know that we do what we promise. Demand for our products is growing, and that's great. Now it is up to us to seize these opportunities and ensure that the Limburg cherry and other regional products are preserved."

Jules Goossens Program Manager RVS-LB: "Very proud of Limburg"

"The success stories from Paris give RVS-LB confidence for the future," said Goossens. "RVS-LB and the Limburg producers involved, such as the Bisschopsmolen, the Fruit Farm and Bemelerhof, have shown what we can achieve through intensive cooperation and innovation. We are proud of Limburg, of our makers, growers, farmers and cultivators. Together we market healthy, nutritious homegrown products at fair and transparent prices. We connect, intertwine and sell, and together we are proud of what we have achieved. More information about products and collaboration? For detailed information about RVS-LB products and possible collaborations, please contact the RVS-LB team."

On August 4, Marianne Vos delivered another great performance with a silver medal at the Olympics. After finishing, Marianne was immediately treated to a delicious cherry juice from Regional Food System Limburg. Marianne: congratulations on this amazing victory. We are proud! 😀 Thank you to initiator Frank van Eerd, Grainlabs, producers and processors, partners and team RVS-LB.

Photography Marianne Vos

Olympics: George Deswijzen