Beernem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In Beernem, the Mobile Fruit Press, led by Celien Bulcke, began its 16th season, processing apples from residents like Claudine (300 kg) and Wim (150 kg) into fresh juice stored in 3–5 litre barrels.
As VRT News reported, in Beernem, in the province of West Flanders, Belgium, the Mobile Fruit Press has started its season by turning the first apples of the year into fresh apple juice. They mentioned that the first day was busy, with many trailers fully loaded with apples waiting to be pressed.
The press is open on weekdays at its Beernem home base until the end of October 2025. On weekends, the mobile press moves to different locations across Flanders to serve more residents. Celien Bulcke of the Mobile Fruit Press said,
“It’s finally another good year. You can see it from the fully loaded trailers. It’s nice to see the same people coming back every year.”
Who brings apples to Beernem’s mobile fruit press for fresh juice?
The press can handle apple amounts starting from 75 kilograms. After pressing, the juice is stored in 3-5 litre cardboard barrels for homeowners to take home. Over the years, the Mobile Fruit Press has grown into a popular tradition in Flanders.
Claudine from Hansbeke brought more than 300 kilograms of apples and some pears to the Mobile Fruit Press today, Aug 13, 2025. She has been taking part in the apple pressing for over 10 years.
Wim from Roeselare came with around 150 kilograms of apples, collected not only from his garden but also from his son-in-law and neighbours. He expects to leave with about 100 litres of apple juice. Wim said it would be a shame to let the apples rot, so he prefers paying a bit more to have them turned into juice.
In the Hazeltons, a community apple pressing project has been running since 2020. People bring their apples and containers by appointment. The apples are sorted, ground, and pressed into fresh juice. Leftover apple pulp is given as animal feed to reduce waste. Organisers say it also helps the community by sharing skills and working together during the apple harvest season.
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