Hazera launches ToBRFV resistant varieties in Mexico
Posted on Nov 08, 2022
Hazera launches ToBRFV resistant varieties in Mexico
After having announced the pipeline of its ToBRFV resistant varieties, Hazera is proud to launch its first resistant varieties for the Mexican market and showcase them at the most important event for agriculture in Latin America- EXPO AgroAlimentaria Guanajuato® 2022 in Mexico.
ToBRFV launch
ToBRFV is very noticeable in Mexico and growers have been faced with diminished yields and battered fruit. ToBRFV is a huge problem for tomato production, affecting the yield and fruit quality with coloring issues and brown spots on fruits impacting directly on the marketable yield.
Since ToBRFV hit tomato growers worldwide, Hazera’s R&D team has been working tirelessly, for several years, to find varieties capable of giving an effective level of ToBRFV resistance without compromising the yield and fruit quality. “These efforts included in-depth trials in many locations, under different conditions in a global scale, to confirm that we are able to provide solutions, with the right balance between performance and ToBRFV protection”, according to Alejandro Szechtman, Hazera’s Portfolio Marketing Director.
With the optimal balance between protection and performance, Canelo, one of Hazera’s tomato varieties with resistance to ToBRFV, is an indeterminate Roma type with a vigorous plant, which maintains a balanced yield under adverse environmental conditions, due to its wide array of resistances. “Through vast trialing of Canelo in most regions of Mexico, including San Luis Potosi, Baja California, Michoacan, Sinaloa, and Coahuila, Canelo provides high yield, excellent fruit quality, good maturation with an intense red color, as well as excellent firmness, maintaining L and XL sizes with average weights of 150 to 160 grams throughout the production cycle”, according to Javier Angulo- Product Development Manager, Mexico.
“Canelo”
Canelo is a very productive variety, ideal for growing in a net house or greenhouse. Additionally, with its ToBRFV resistance, Canelo is able to serve the Mexican grower as an effective tool to face the highly infectious virus, which is supported by local growers, who claim that “Canelo is a very strong and healthy plant with outstanding high fruit quality.”
Looking forward, “Hazera is continuing its efforts to provide effective varieties to better cope with ToBRFV on a global scale and, in Mexico, will launch several new varieties, including the up and coming, new Indeterminate Grape Tomato, ‘Pendragon’, a variety that combines ToBRFV IR resistance with high yield, long shelf life, and good taste, following our commitment to provide growers varieties with the optimal balance between protection and performance,” says Alejandro Szechtman.
Foco en los tomates: Oportunidades y desafíos en la tienda
Posted on Oct 30, 2022
¿Sabías que los tomates se encuentran entre los cultivos de hortalizas más populares del mundo? Solo los agricultores de la UE producen alrededor de 17 millones de toneladas métricas cada año. El COVID-19 ha sido un importante impulsor de este próspero mercado: las ventas minoristas mundiales de tomates frescos aumentaron un 17,6 % en 2020, ya que las personas se vieron obligadas a comer en casa.
En Hazera, los tomates tienen un lugar especial en nuestro corazón y ofrecemos cientos de variedades diferentes a los agricultores de todo el mundo. A continuación, Alejandro Szechtman, Portfolio Marketing Director de Tomate, arroja luz sobre los desafíos y oportunidades que enfrenta el sector del tomate hoy en día.
Alejandro Szechtman
Cambiando los gustos de los consumidores
La clave de la popularidad de los tomates es la gama de opciones disponibles. En este momento, vemos una demanda creciente de tomates de “snack” que son muy convenientes. Los tomates más pequeños (cherry) requieren más trabajo de cosecha, lo que puede ser un desafío dado el difícil clima económico actual y el ajustado mercado laboral.
Mientras tanto, los consumidores están “comprando productos locales” cada vez más para ayudar al medio ambiente. Pero cultivar frutas de calidad mediterránea en el norte de Europa, por ejemplo, no siempre ha sido fácil. Ahora, gracias a la experiencia de Hazera y a la profunda I+D, tomates más sabrosos están disponibles durante más tiempo del año.
Paralelamente, estamos trabajando con exportadores para desarrollar variedades con una vida de transporte más larga.
Oportunidades de automatización
A medida que disminuye el trabajo manual en el sector del tomate, vemos que los agricultores recurren a soluciones automatizadas y digitalizadas para hacer que la producción sea más fácil y rápida. Las eficiencias de energía, costos y recursos resultantes son muy bienvenidas en una industria donde las ganancias son a menudo impredecibles.
Por lo tanto, la automatización es un área emocionante para la inversión, y en Hazera siempre estamos trabajando en I + D para hacer realidad las soluciones soñadas del futuro para los productores que las necesitan.
Abordar el impacto del cambio climático
Un clima más cálido afectará negativamente el crecimiento de las plantas y aumentará el riesgo de enfermedades, lo que dificultará satisfacer la creciente demanda mundial.
Hazera está trabajando en soluciones para ayudar a los agricultores a prevenir y superar los efectos del cambio climático. No solo estamos cultivando variedades más adaptables con mayor tolerancia a la sequía y al calor, sino que también estamos colaborando con los productores para diseñar e implementar tecnologías para ahorrar agua durante el riego.
Satisfaciendo sus necesidades de tomate
En Hazera, somos líderes mundiales en tomates, con un gran portafolio de variedades disponibles. Aprovechamos nuestras décadas de conocimiento y experiencia para ayudar a los productores de todo el mundo a hacer que sus operaciones sean sostenibles, de modo que los consumidores puedan seguir disfrutando de tomates de la mejor calidad durante muchos años.
Hazera announces varieties with intermediate resistance (IR) to Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) in pipeline
Hazera is proud to announce the launch of our ToBRFV intermediate resistant varieties- the optimal balance between protection and performance– providing the grower an effective tool to face the highly infectious virus, infecting tomato plants, fruit and affecting growers worldwide. The Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus poses a constant threat to growers worldwide, significantly reducing yields, affecting the quality of fruit, and systematically infecting other plants, as it is a very transmittable virus that can infect through soil, tools, water, and people’s contact.
Since ToBRFV hit, Hazera’s R&D team has been working tirelessly to find varieties capable of giving an effective level of ToBRFV resistance without compromising the yield and fruit quality we’ve invested years to perfect. Over the course of several years, Hazera researchers and agronomists invested endless resources to find solutions to address our growers’ needs worldwide. Moreover, according to Alejandro Szechtman, Hazera’s Portfolio Marketing Director, “These efforts included in-depth trials in many locations, under different conditions in a global scale, to confirm that we are able to provide the optimal solutions, with the right balance between performance and ToBRFV protection”.
Hazera is proud to announce a wide ToBRFV resistant variety pipeline worldwide, with which we will be able to tailor-make the optimal solution per market requirement, beginning with Italy, Greece, Spain, Mexico, Turkey, Israel etc’.
Hazera, through Limagrain’s upstream research, contributed to a network of internal and external collaborative discovery projects on ToBRFV using different approaches. This resulted in Limagrain being the first company to file a patent on ToBRFV resistance in tomato in 2017. While the first generation of tomato hybrids resistant to ToBRFV is being commercialized, Limagrain discovery programs continue to work intensively to find resistances against potential emergent more aggressive forms of this devastating virus.
“Our R&D efforts haven’t ended, we’re still investing to achieve higher resistance, and expand our portfolio to the benefit of growers worldwide,” said Szechtman.
Hazera is a global leader in the seed industry. Hazera has headquarters in both the Netherlands and Israel. We operate subsidiaries in 11 countries, together with a distribution network serving over 130 markets. Our partners operate in all kinds of climates, and under diverse growing conditions and market requirements. For over a century, our top priority has been walking alongside them, developing an enormous variety of seeds and providing comprehensive support every step of the way. Hazera’s team of experts works directly with growers to evaluate their needs, assist during variety selection and provide guidance and support throughout the crop cycle.
Hazera is part of the Limagrain Group, an international agri-business based in France. Being a farmers’ cooperative, the Limagrain Group understands the needs of its customers and has grown to become the largest seed company in Europe, specialising in vegetables, field crops and cereal products. Limagrain’s vegetable seed division is the second largest company in the industry.
Hazera’s Official Training Video: Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV)
Posted on Aug 30, 2022
We are happy to present Hazera’s training video and sanitation guide for dealing with the new ToBRFV virus.
The purpose of this video is to assist growers and farmers to gain a better understanding of the ToBRFV virus, and to share some practical advice and active measures for eradicating the growth of this virus through the use of stringent hygiene and highly effective sanitation. (more…)
by Dr. Yaniv Rotem – Solanaceae Pathologist, Hazera
General background
The Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus – ToBRFV – is a relatively new viral disease, first appearing in the Middle East in 2014. The disease has since spread rapidly to many other areas in the world, and currently constitutes a major global problem in tomato crop production worldwide.
In Israel, all tomato production areas have been severely affected by ToBRFV, and the effects of the disease are evident both in the tomato greenhouses and fields, and in the quality and appearance of the fruits which are sold.
Symptoms of the disease
As a rule, the symptoms of the disease are similar to the typical symptoms of ToMV, but the severity of the symptoms can differ from that known with ToMV:
In the leaves – a mosaic appears, which is particularly noticeable on young leaves and at the growth vertices. In some cases, there is narrowing of the leaflet blade, and in certain cases the leaves become entirely threadlike (“shoestrings”).
In the fruit – yellow spots develop which become necrotic at a later stage. In some cases, “chocolate spots” appear on the fruit. In cases of severe damage, the fruit becomes wrinkled and distorted. The virus name (“Brown Rugose Fruit”) was given due to the wrinkled appearance together with the brown spots.
Note that in contrast to the characteristic situation when affected by ToMV, in which symptoms generally appear in the fruit only in cases of particularly severe damage to the foliage, in the case of ToBRFV – there is no connection between the severity of damage to the fruit and severity of damage to the foliage: there are situations in which serious damage to the fruit is observed while no symptoms appear on the leaves, or vice versa – cases of severe symptoms in the foliage and lack of symptoms in the fruit.
In certain cases – necrosis develops of the calyx of the fruit, the fruit peduncle, and the central spine of the cluster of fruit.
When a susceptible variety is infected with ToBRFV, the main damage is a significant weakening of the plant and its capability to produce clusters of fruits over a long season.
In the wake of the viral infection, tomato cultivation in Israel has changed entirely: due to the weakening of the plants, growers currently have almost no possibility to grow tomatoes in a long central season of 9-10 months as was customary before the virus’s appearance; instead, shorter growing seasons of 4-5 months are now customary, intended for harvesting a few clusters only.
Symptoms on leaves – severe mosaic and narrowing of some of the leaf lobes, to the point of appearing “thready”
Severe symptoms in the fruits
Symptoms of necrosis in the calyx, fruit peduncle and the spine of the cluster
Weakening of the plant as a result of viral infection in a susceptible variety (on right) compared to a variety that is largely similar to it but is resistant to the virus (on left).
How is the disease transmitted?
ToBRFV is very easily transmitted mechanically – by human contact, by work tools, support wires, or any entity that comes in physical contact with an infected plant or soil that contains the virus and later comes in contact with healthy plants. It is important to remember that particles of this virus are particularly resistant to environmental conditions, and are capable of surviving for long periods in soil or on infected surfaces.
Since the virus is capable of surviving in soil for a long period – the virus is also transferred with infected soil that is moved from one place to another (by sticking to shoes, to work tools that are moved from one plot to another, etc.).
The virus is transmitted in seeds – a seed produced from an infected plant is likely to carry virus particles on its surface.
The virus can also be transmitted by bumble bees, which serve to pollinate during the cultivation process.
Prevention and treatment
Since the outbreak of the disease, Hazera together with Limagrain Group have been working on a comprehensive study of the issue, in which tomato varieties with intermediate levels of resistance to the virus were developed. The first patent in the world for resistance to ToBRFV was registered by Limagrain in 2017. Using these varieties provides an optimal solution for growing tomatoes in conditions of infections with ToBRFV, while maintaining the varieties performance.
Observing phytosanitary rules is key to preventing the disease:
Making sure to have clean clothes, jackets and gloves for those entering the greenhouses.
Making sure to sterilize all equipment used.
Sterilizing shoes in an immersion pit upon entrance to the greenhouse.
Being strict about the order in which buildings are entered – the workday begins with the buildings housing the young, healthy plants and continues to the buildings housing the more mature plants.
Plants in which infection is discovered should be immediately removed from the greenhouse, being careful to avoid contact with neighboring plants.
Using healthy seeds and seedlings is another key to preventing the disease. Hazera is strict about performing health tests in licensed laboratories, according to international standards and the Plant Protection Services. Checking that seeds are free of ToBRFV is done by the ISHI Protocol, which is the international protocol accepted throughout the world.
Being strict about good sanitization – sterilizing the soil or growth medium and the greenhouse space when cultivation is completed.
by Dr. Yaniv Rotem – Solanaceae Pathologist, Hazera
General background
The Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus – ToBRFV – is a relatively new viral disease, first appearing in the Middle East in 2014. The disease has since spread rapidly to many other areas in the world, and currently constitutes a major global problem in tomato crop production worldwide.
In Israel, all tomato production areas have been severely affected by ToBRFV, and the effects of the disease are evident both in the tomato greenhouses and fields, and in the quality and appearance of the fruits which are sold.
Symptoms of the disease
As a rule, the symptoms of the disease are similar to the typical symptoms of ToMV, but the severity of the symptoms can differ from that known with ToMV:
In the leaves – a mosaic appears, which is particularly noticeable on young leaves and at the growth vertices. In some cases, there is narrowing of the leaflet blade, and in certain cases the leaves become entirely threadlike (“shoestrings”).
In the fruit – yellow spots develop which become necrotic at a later stage. In some cases, “chocolate spots” appear on the fruit. In cases of severe damage, the fruit becomes wrinkled and distorted. The virus name (“Brown Rugose Fruit”) was given due to the wrinkled appearance together with the brown spots.
Note that in contrast to the characteristic situation when affected by ToMV, in which symptoms generally appear in the fruit only in cases of particularly severe damage to the foliage, in the case of ToBRFV – there is no connection between the severity of damage to the fruit and severity of damage to the foliage: there are situations in which serious damage to the fruit is observed while no symptoms appear on the leaves, or vice versa – cases of severe symptoms in the foliage and lack of symptoms in the fruit.
In certain cases – necrosis develops of the calyx of the fruit, the fruit peduncle, and the central spine of the cluster of fruit.
When a susceptible variety is infected with ToBRFV, the main damage is a significant weakening of the plant and its capability to produce clusters of fruits over a long season.
In the wake of the viral infection, tomato cultivation in Israel has changed entirely: due to the weakening of the plants, growers currently have almost no possibility to grow tomatoes in a long central season of 9-10 months as was customary before the virus’s appearance; instead, shorter growing seasons of 4-5 months are now customary, intended for harvesting a few clusters only.
Symptoms on leaves – severe mosaic and narrowing of some of the leaf lobes, to the point of appearing “thready”
Severe symptoms in the fruits
Symptoms of necrosis in the calyx, fruit peduncle and the spine of the cluster
Weakening of the plant as a result of viral infection in a susceptible variety (on right) compared to a variety that is largely similar to it but is resistant to the virus (on left).
How is the disease transmitted?
ToBRFV is very easily transmitted mechanically – by human contact, by work tools, support wires, or any entity that comes in physical contact with an infected plant or soil that contains the virus and later comes in contact with healthy plants. It is important to remember that particles of this virus are particularly resistant to environmental conditions, and are capable of surviving for long periods in soil or on infected surfaces.
Since the virus is capable of surviving in soil for a long period – the virus is also transferred with infected soil that is moved from one place to another (by sticking to shoes, to work tools that are moved from one plot to another, etc.).
The virus is transmitted in seeds – a seed produced from an infected plant is likely to carry virus particles on its surface.
The virus can also be transmitted by bumble bees, which serve to pollinate during the cultivation process.
Prevention and treatment
Since the outbreak of the disease, Hazera together with Limagrain Group have been working on a comprehensive study of the issue, in which tomato varieties with intermediate levels of resistance to the virus were developed. The first patent in the world for resistance to ToBRFV was registered by Limagrain in 2017. Using these varieties provides an optimal solution for growing tomatoes in conditions of infections with ToBRFV, while maintaining the varieties performance.
Observing phytosanitary rules is key to preventing the disease:
Making sure to have clean clothes, jackets and gloves for those entering the greenhouses.
Making sure to sterilize all equipment used.
Sterilizing shoes in an immersion pit upon entrance to the greenhouse.
Being strict about the order in which buildings are entered – the workday begins with the buildings housing the young, healthy plants and continues to the buildings housing the more mature plants.
Plants in which infection is discovered should be immediately removed from the greenhouse, being careful to avoid contact with neighboring plants.
Using healthy seeds and seedlings is another key to preventing the disease. Hazera is strict about performing health tests in licensed laboratories, according to international standards and the Plant Protection Services. Checking that seeds are free of ToBRFV is done by the ISHI Protocol, which is the international protocol accepted throughout the world.
Being strict about good sanitization – sterilizing the soil or growth medium and the greenhouse space when cultivation is completed.
High quality and high yield, the golden combination for Hazera onions
Posted on Feb 28, 2022
Hazera, part of Limagrain Group, is a specialist in the development, production and marketing of onion seed. The breeders have been working on strong varieties of excellent quality since the 1950s. The distribution of new, improved onion varieties is a slow process that can sometimes take more than 25 years. It is therefore important to have a good vision of what the market needs. What are the trends?
“For years the focus within the company has been on breeding and cultivation in the local markets, but since 2008, when Hazera was formed in its current form, there has been a complete global focus,” said Reinout de Heer, Global Product Manager Allium. “Onions are sensitive to day length. The length of the day determines the moment of bulb formation of the onion. Different varieties are therefore more or less suitable for cultivation per day length zone; from short day onions to extra long day onions. Due to the global focus, development programs and knowledge can be combined. This has given the worldwide cultivation, production and sale of high-quality onion seed a significant boost.”
More sales opportunities Onions are a daily ingredient in the kitchen for many people worldwide. And although an onion is not sold at variety level in the supermarket. There you just buy a yellow, white, pink or red onion. The variety is important to the growers. Pablo Salgado, Onion Breeder: “They are focussing on disease resistance, skin quality, firmness and yield. Hazera is constantly working on innovations in this area in order to achieve the best onion with the highest yield for growers, processors and buyers. An example is the development of varieties that are suitable for multiple processing options, so that the grower has more possibilities in terms of sales opportunities.”
Growth Semiagro, Peru: “The Peruvian onion market has grown thanks to the fantastic work of the collaboration between Semiagro and Hazera. With 17,500 hectares of planted cultivation area, the onion crop is positioned as the highest-producing vegetable in the Peruvian market.
The national consumption of pink onions represents 83% and 17% for the export market (mainly granex for the US). In addition, the conditions for the onion grower have improved, the possibilities for the national and export potential market for wholesalers have increased and the consumer has access to better quality onions.”
Superior material Semiagro and Hazera have been working together for more than two decades on the development of hybrid onion varieties in Peru. Today, the Sivan F1 is the leading variety on the market and is recognized throughout the chain for its characteristics: excellent post-harvest, good skin retention, beautiful color and thin necks.
There are already promising trials for early onions. Year after year we see superior material from 3 new varieties (10414, 10416 and 10417), the result of 19 years of trials.”
Harvesting by machine Within the yellow short day onions segment, the trend is to produce more uniform round onions. A change that is necessary, because manual harvesting and processing is becoming too expensive. Pablo: “By making sure the onions are more uniform and round, they can be harvested and sorted more easily by machine. Maintaining qualities such as firmness, skin retenation and disease resistance is very important.”
Golden combination In New Zealand and the Netherlands, many onions are destined for export. Reinout: “The onions must also remain of high quality during and after transport. Skin retention and firmness are important elements for good quality onions. In addition, the net yield must be good. As a grower you can get a high yield from the field, but in the end you get paid for the yield upon delivery. Excellent quality and high net yield is the golden combination.
Rhinestone Steve McArthur – Vigour, New Zealand: “Ten years ago, the New Zealand onion industry was upgraded with the first large-scale planting of the Dutch-bred onion, Rhinestone. The onion yield for the growers has increased by more than 10% since then. Rhinestone leads the way in terms of reliability and quality, not only for growers, but also for others in the chain, such as exporters, packers and retailers.
Listening to local growers Hazera’s breeders first listened to local growers. They created Rhinestone by combining local New Zealand genetics with the best genetics from other regions. The result: a hybrid with geographical adaptability, but also a long shelf life, high yield, great taste, firm bulbs and very good skin retention.
New Zealand plays an important role in filling the gap between the old and new season onions in Western Europe. Shipping onions for a journey across the equator for six to ten weeks requires an onion with many excellent qualities.
Rhinestone offers growers the certainty that they deliver quality to the other side of the world.
Climate and red onions Other developments that Hazera is paying attention to are irrigation solutions and red onions. Pablo: “The climate is changing. We are conducting tests so that we can respond effectively to longer periods of drought or more precipitation.” Reinout continues: “And the market for red onions is growing. We are expanding our portfolio in all segments. Both in the short day and in the extra long day, with our latest introduction, for example, the Redrover. This extra long day red onion has a long shelf life and is very suitable for use in salads.”
What Plant Viruses Can Teach Us About Human Viruses – COVID-19
Posted on Feb 28, 2022
Written by: Dr. David Levy,
Plant Pathologist, Hazera
Globalization of our world over the past several decades has driven a huge increase in the global movement of biological material, providing numerous opportunities for the spread of diseases in a relatively short time.
Infectious plant diseases can cause minor damage, while others may cause a huge epidemic capable of destroying an entire crop. In the case of plant viruses, there is no cure for the infected plant, since plants lack a real immune system of the type animals and humans have. Therefore, the most efficient solution to combat the problem is to prevent plants from being infected by applying preventive hygiene measures.
Sounds familiar?! Now, in 2020, most people comprehend this logic as the world faces a critical and challenging period due to the COVID-19 human virus pandemic. As the virus spreads throughout the world, it is affecting and changing our routine life.
Hazera, as a seed company, is heavily invested in research and in the development and production of high-quality varieties. We have acquired knowledge and practices in fighting pests and viruses that may threaten the yields and the quality of our varieties – our products.
In this fight against viruses, it is key to understand that every pathogen has a disease cycle, which is the way the virus infects, reproduces and spreads. This can also be called the epidemiological triangle:
Knowing your pest, reliable and professional detection methods, good methodology for sampling and monitoring the population and early detection in case of a disease outbreak are important and practical key points in controlled disease management.
This is not the first time that humanity has encountered a devastating pandemic. However, in the past, such outbreaks of disease were generally local or regional epidemics due to limited global transportation and movement of population.
How can implementing a quarantine contribute to stopping the spread of the virus?
Quarantine – a procedure developed during the 14th century to protect coastal cities from disease epidemics. Ships arriving in Venice from infected ports were required to moor in the harbor for 40 days (quaranta giorni) before disembarking, a practice known as quarantine.
Currently, we are all learning the importance of quarantine safety measures and can now appreciate the significant social impact of quarantine restrictions on suspected virus carriers.
The strategy used in the case of plant viruses is very similar. But quarantine in itself is insufficient to fight and defeat epidemics. Avoidance or prevention are the best strategy for plant viruses and are efficient for specific human populations (high risk groups) in the case of human viruses. It is better and more cost effective to make every effort to prevent the virus from entering our fields or greenhouses, in the case of plant viruses, or into countries or communities in the case of human viruses. This can be achieved by three important elements known as MDM.
Measures – use of disinfectants, gloves, coats, masks, coveralls and additional protective means Discipline – everyone must follow the guidelines and instructions strictly and precisely Management – the process is led by professionals backed by the full commitment of the top administrative level
As a matter of fact, all the measures implemented in the fight against COVID-19 are very similar to those used against plant viruses, except for the use of masks, since plants do not inhale air into lungs. Contact, survival of the virus on surfaces, clothing and tools – even smartphones – apply in both cases.
Discipline is mandatory and critical to the success of the strategy, along with applying restrictions and hygiene measures. Even one person who does not comply with the restrictions is enough to cause an outbreak and secondary spread of a disease – in both plants and human viruses.
Take care!
In disease management, prevention is the most efficient strategy
The vegetable seed company Hazera has a long history of growing cucumbers.Hazera contributed to the birth of improvements in cucumber genetics, especially in the minicucumber.While continuing these improvements, the company is also adopting other varieties, conquering new markets and exploring new marketing possibilities.A roundup of the latest developments with Hazera’s Global Cucurbit Product Manager, Mark van der Zouwen. Cucumber comes in a wide range of varieties, from 10cm baby cucumbers for snacking to the famous 30cm cucumbers for non-heated or high-tech heated greenhouses, with mini cucumbers (also known as beit alpha), slicers, varieties for making pickles, as well as a wide variety of Asian varieties. Mark van der Zouwen tells us, “The Hazera story began with the mini cucumber, which is mainly grown in non-heated greenhouses in the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, Central Asia, as well as in the Americas. Today mini cucumbers are also grown in heated greenhouses in North America and Northern Europe. Currently, Hazera covers the entire range. Since the 1980s we have introduced many groundbreaking innovations; for example, significant improvements in fruit quality (uniform shape and colour), a drastic improvement in production, adaptability to different growing conditions and, more recently, long shelf life. In the early eighties we also began to specialize in the long variety for non-heated greenhouses, especially in the Mediterranean region. Here we introduced similar innovations, including extended shelf life (many will remember the Suprami variety), and recently created varieties with combined resistance to both powdery mildew and viral diseases such as CVYV and CYSDV.
In mini varieties, Hazera is currently among the top 3 cultivation companies in the world, with varieties very well adapted to the Mediterranean, Middle East and Central American markets, «Our market shares in mini varieties they are growing steadily, and we have expanded our cultivation activities, locating them in the very center of these regions. In addition to the highly successful varieties for spring-summer such as Bereket and Dennis, we are now launching new varieties also for the most stressful cold season as successors to Cohiba. A very interesting development is the midi cucumber for heated greenhouses like our Nikifor spring-autumn variety, which is giving high yields and high fruit quality, for example in Poland, where high-tech growers are using it.”, Mark said. Recently the Hazera crop has also been preparing strong business prospects with the baby cucumber, with 8-12cm fruits, which are rapidly gaining popularity in many markets where healthy snacks and convenience are seeing a real boom. The long variety is receiving a lot of attention once again, boosted by new cultivation activities in Spain. Here, Hazera recently launched the highly successful Batallón variety for Almería and the Granada region. Mark tells us, “This is a winter variety with excellent color, length and durability, and virus resistance. We are sure that the development in the cultivation of long cucumbers in Spain will have a positive consolidation in other regions with similar growing conditions, such as Greece, Mexico, Oceania and South Africa.”
One of the latest developments is activities to enter the Chinese market, for which Hazera has recently started cultivation activities. Mark tells us, “With our wealth of experience as a solid foundation, our ambition is to incorporate the needs and varieties for the Chinese market into our programs. If we want to establish ourselves as a global specialist, we must be present in this growing market, which is the largest in the world and very open to innovations. China’s cultivation and consumption are very different from those in other regions. Therefore, we must be very attentive and respect the needs and traditions of the Chinese, while offering innovation in our products.” What will the future look like in cucumber for Hazera? Mark replies, “We will extend our farming activities to all important regions for this global harvest. Our rich gene pool will be used to create a genetic diversity perfectly suited to the main production areas. Disease resistance, especially root and viral diseases, will be crucial, and could be a way to avoid costly grafting. We will adapt our varieties to high-yield cultivation techniques. And last but not least, we will develop products that meet the needs of the entire fresh produce chain. The objective is to search for possible innovations to convert bulk products into products that offer greater convenience and ensure greater added value for consumers. After all, they are the ones who consume the final product and for whom we work day after day.”
The tomato is a popular and nutritious fruit that we usually refer to and use regularly as a vegetable. Tomatoes contain a wide variety of nutrient and non-nutrient substances with proven health benefits. These components work together to create the healthy qualities of the tomato.
Tomato components and their health benefits:
Lycopene
Lycopene is a fat-soluble substance found in the blood and in the tissues of the testicles, adrenal glands, liver, prostate, breast, colon, and lungs. Tomato products contain higher concentrations of lycopene than any other plant source, although lycopene is available in other plant foods, such as watermelon, papaya, red grapefruit, and guava.
Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant and may help reduce the risk of some types of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Since lycopene is responsible for giving tomato its red color, the redder the fruit, the greater the amount of lycopene it contains.
Vitamin C
An essential vitamin that also acts as an antioxidant. It can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Vitamin C contributes to the formation of connective tissue, maintains the health of capillaries, thereby preventing minor bruising, and keeping gums healthy. It also helps the body access non-heme iron or iron from herbal sources. A medium-sized tomato supplies almost half of the amount of vitamin C recommended for daily consumption.
Vitamin A
An essential vitamin important for normal cell growth. Helps the development of healthy skin, hair and mucous membranes. Supports proper vision, development of bones and teeth, and reproduction. Tomatoes contain beta-carotene, a phytochemical that the body converts to vitamin A after you consume it.
Vitamin K
An important vitamin for blood clotting, which helps prevent haemorrhage (excessive, uncontrolled bleeding). Vitamin K is also important for bone health through mineralization. Vitamin K can be obtained from foods such as tomatoes, although it can also be produced by bacteria in the intestines.
Potassium
An essential mineral that helps regulate blood pressure and muscle contractions. It can reduce the risk of kidney stones and bone loss.
Dietary fiber
The part of an edible plant resistant to digestion. Dietary fiber can help digestion by preventing constipation. Tomatoes also contain, in smaller amounts, many other vitamins, minerals, and other healthy substances. These include: various B vitamins (including folic acid), vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorous, tryptophan, and protein.
A medium-sized tomato (148 grams) contains the following ratio of recommended daily levels of various nutrients, based on a 2,000-calorie daily diet.
Hazera’s Official Training Video: Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV)
Posted on Aug 30, 2021
We are happy to present Hazera’s training video and sanitation guide for dealing with the new ToBRFV virus.
The purpose of this video is to assist growers and farmers to gain a better understanding of the ToBRFV virus, and to share some practical advice and active measures for eradicating the growth of this virus through the use of stringent hygiene and highly effective sanitation. (more…)
