Lopster aalbeerns
In the last century, after a month of hard work in August, peace descended again on Loppersum and its surroundings. The berry harvest was over again and people could take stock of their earnings.
Have a look now
For decades, the fruit harvest was an important source of income for Loppersum and the surrounding area. Presumably, fruit trees and berry bushes were planted in one's own garden in the mid-nineteenth century. Farmers and citizens initially grew the fruit only for their own consumption. But when they discovered that they could also earn a little extra money with the surplus, they devoted an increasing part of their plot to fruit cultivation. Berry bushes were planted under the standard trees with apples, plums and pears. In this way, the available land was used efficiently. Fruit growing was an extra in addition to the regular income of the farmer, baker, grocer or farm labourer.
Expansion
Business was good, the harvest was ...
For decades, the fruit harvest was an important source of income for Loppersum and the surrounding area. Presumably, fruit trees and berry bushes were planted in one's own garden in the mid-nineteenth century. Farmers and citizens initially grew the fruit only for their own consumption. But when they discovered that they could also earn a little extra money with the surplus, they devoted an increasing part of their plot to fruit cultivation. Berry bushes were planted under the standard trees with apples, plums and pears. In this way, the available land was used efficiently. Fruit growing was an extra in addition to the regular income of the farmer, baker, grocer or farm labourer.
Expansion
Business was good, and the harvest was sold in town at high prices. Things were going so well that the plots kept expanding. By 1875, the red and white berry bushes already covered an area of about 22 ha.
Loppersum created a furore with its berry crop. In 1881, a speaker in Gasselternijveen told:
In berry growing, the right choice is the main thing. The whole mess of foreign varieties can safely be given away. Stick to the varieties grown in Loppersum and Berlicum. These are ancient varieties that are very sweet. If you want to grow berries, get cuttings from these places.
In 1885, the newspaper reported that in the east of Drenthe, cuttings from 'Loppersum, whose berry cultivation is famous' had been planted out by the thousands.
More activity
Cultivation and marketing received an even greater boost after the railway line to Groningen and the station in Loppersum were opened in 1884.
Berry processing also began to take off here and there. 'Gruno's berry garden' advertises on 31 October 1887 that 'the berry wines have turned out excellent and are ready for shipment'. The 'Loppesheimer fruit wines' are in great demand. This Lopster firm would process berries and other fruits into juices and wines for a long time to come. A branch was meanwhile opened in the city in 1912.
England was also interested and a shipping association was formed to ship berries, especially black ones, there. This trade was discontinued around 1900, but resumed in 1904.
Meanwhile, auction societies were established in Eenum (Pomona) and Wirdum. Pomona also auctions in Loppersum because of its proximity to the railway station. Not only berries but also other fruit and horticultural products are auctioned. Cabbage and beans are doing reasonably well. Moreover, the association is also moving into selling tools and giving horticultural education.
Eventually, in 1911, both associations auctioned in the same shed in Loppersum, an attempt to merge failed, however. Things are not going their way, there is no more land available to expand cultivation and the crisis depresses prices. Only in 1930 do they come to an agreement to continue together under the name Pomona.
Then things went uphill again and in 1939 the harvest of 175 hectares of horticultural land at Pomona was traded. Still, it is mainly products of fruit growing, which yields better returns than vegetable growing.
Horticulture also slumped. The establishment of a horticultural foundation caused a temporary revival in horticultural products such as cabbage, sprouts and tomatoes around 1960.
Kentering
But then World War II broke out, signalling the end of productive berry farming. After the war, it did not manage to get back to its old level. The bushes have aged, production declined and labour costs rose. Fruit growing no longer pays and many orchards are uprooted. Many are switching to arable or livestock farming. Large-scale new plots, on which berries are grown as monoculture and under glass, are too big an investment. Moreover, Lopster berries no longer meet the demand for better quality. Advertisements of Gruno's berry garden disappeared from newspapers after 1952.
The end
To turn the tide, Pomona tried to bring about a merger between all the northern clubs. This succeeds only partially. Only the auctions of Hoogeveen, Loppersum and Groningen merge in 1965 and then the auction is concentrated in Groningen. The trade then concerns hard fruit, red and black berries, sprouts and tomatoes. Pomona closes its auction on 1 March 1966: only tomato sorting and materials sales continue. But pretty soon after that, sales and prices decline sharply and berry cultivation disappears from the fields of Loppersum and the surrounding area for good.
The berry bushes have retreated back to where they started: back gardens for their own use.
source: verhalenvangroningen.nl
Header photo: Berry pickers at Kweker Ko Bultena in Loppersum, ca.1915.
Photo: Children helping with the berry harvest, ca. 1955
Photo: Label of 'Grunos' berry wine'