Every year, the 'We’re Smart Awards', an initiative of well-known vegetable chef Frank Fol, honours vegetable restaurants, shops, companies and people that made a particular effort to promote or creatively support a healthy and sustainable lifestyle that prominently features fruit and vegetables.
Van Laethem bvba, known under brand name Bell’aroma, was honoured with the award for ‘Most beautiful culinary herbs & flower producer’ this year. The company has greenhouses in Vlezenbeek. “Thanks to managers John and Armelle van Laethem, fresh herbs, edible flowers and miniature vegetables have been successfully supplied to the market for years. Thanks to these kinds of entrepreneurs, the Denk Groenten! Denk Fruit! kitchen is advancing, and the threshold to be even more creative and create even tastier dishes is lowered for chefs and the general audience,” says Frank.
John van Laethem: “We put that award into perspective, we remain firmly grounded. Nevertheless, it’s a very nice recognition for all the effort we have made over the years, and it’s also a firm pat on the back for our employees.”
Armelle Moonens: “It goes without saying that we should look after ourselves properly. The challenge therefore is being (more) aware of what we’re eating. The fact that we all have to take more care of our blue planet also encompasses all of this. It’s high time that the open sandals and woolly socks image surrounding sustainability is replaced by the fun factor, and that it’s given a sexier image.”
