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Contents 2 Good, better, best: Solarino RZ redefines taste 4 Successful partnership boosts 5 Brand new Salanova® introductions 6 Cabbages from around the world in all shapes and sizes 8 Consistent quality despite a changing product offering 9 Quality and food safety for China’s vegetable sector 10 ‘Contributing and connecting’ 11 Enormous growth for lettuce sales in Ukraine
Good, better, best: Solarino RZ redefines taste In 2012, three Italian growers started the cultivation of mini plum tomato Solarino RZ. Although the companies have different backgrounds and different cultivation methods, the outcome is the same everywhere: Solarino is a good example of a Sensational Flavours variety. The generous crop and good tasting fruits convinced growers to extend the production of this specialty.
12 Willem&Drees puts a human face on sustainability 13 Proud of Palermo RZ, the tastiest pepper in The Netherlands 14 Responding to consumers on a worldwide scale
Colofon The RZ Seeds & Services magazine is published in English, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and German by Rijk Zwaan Distribution B.V. It is distributed to chain partners worldwide and has a circulation of 8,000. Text and editorial team: Rijk Zwaan Photography: Rijk Zwaan, Tjipke Meijer Lay-out: Do Company, Rotterdam Printing: Drukkerij Van Deventer Reproduction stating source is allowed. RZ Seeds & Services has been created with the greatest care. Nevertheless no liability can or will be accepted for any incorrect information. Rijk Zwaan Distribution B.V. Burgemeester Crezéelaan 40 P.O. Box 40, 2678 ZG De Lier, The Netherlands T +31 (0)174 53 23 00 F +31 (0)174 53 21 63 E chainmanagement@rijkzwaan.nl www.rijkzwaan.com Cover: roof garden, Intercontinental Hotel, Qingdao – China with Shawn Geng.
When growers decide to try a new variety, they face several challenges. A variety may excell during trials, but how does it perform during real conditions? Even more important: how will buyers receive the new product? A reliable bred variety is the first step to success. Aldo Rovetto of Rijk Zwaan proposed Solarino to grower Antonio Concilio and he decided to seize the opportunity and add this variety to the companies wide range of tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, lettuces and so on. Concilio: “We grow our vegetables organically. Therefore high resistency levels are very important to us. Solarino performed very well on our rich Piana del Sele soil. We introduced the fruit to our customers, both in Italy and other countries, and they were very interested. They all noted a special taste in Solarino; a special sweetness. They also defined Solarino as a multifunctional tomato. It’s appropriate for cooking and can intensify the taste of every dish. The beautiful shape and colour inspire children as well as grown ups to enjoy these tomatoes as a healthy snack.”