Ons Zeeuws Fruit Eversdijk

In the United States they have the garage sale; in Kapelle, Nico Eversdijk has his own version. In his garage he sells apples, pears, apple and pear juice from his own fruit and some vegetables. Nico spent more than 50 years as a fruit grower at Fruitteeltbedrijf Eversdijk, starting his apprenticeship with his father at fourteen, and cannot let go of the world of fruit. He sells mainly for the social enjoyment.

His favourite: the Doyenné du Comice, a late winter dessert pear that after picking in late September needs to ripen further until, a few weeks later, it is sweet, buttery-soft and juicy. The name is telling: "doyenné" means the main town of an ecclesiastical district, coincidentally related to the origin of the name Kapelle, at a chapel. "Du Comice" refers to the French Comice Horticole d'Angers, which spread the variety in the nineteenth century. Knowing this, an apple or pear from Nico's garage tastes just that little bit better.