New LED Cucumber trial in Trial Centre Rijk Zwaan
Rijk Zwaan’s High Tech Trial Centre (TCHT) stands at the forefront of modern growing techniques, enabling the comprehensive collection of crop data. Recently, the company has started a new LED Cucumber trial to showcase the production potential under 327 µmol PAR Light. In this article, Marcel van Koppen, Crop Coordinator Cucumber at Rijk Zwaan, elaborates on this trial and shares what other varieties can be seen at Rijk Zwaan’s TCHT.
Plum tomato Vivolia RZ: now also an organic favourite with a unique flavour
A “flavour bomb” – that’s how organic grower Koen Van Hauteghem describes the plum tomato Vivolia RZ. In Belgium, this Rijk Zwaan truss tomato is sold exclusively by the BelOrta auction house under the name Ruby Red. Koen won an award with the organic version, and retail customer Colruyt Group is so enthusiastic that production is being further scaled up.
Rijk Zwaan invests heavily in seed processing capacity and R&D
Fruit and vegetable breeding company Rijk Zwaan generated a total net sales of €627 million in the 2023/2024 financial year.
The development of shelf diversity
This is the last part of our series in which we celebrate nearly a century of cucumber activity. If you did not yet have the chance to read the first and/or second article, then read more about the evolution of production methods, or the increasing diversity in cucumber breeding. In today’s article, we hear from Heleen van Rijn – Wassenaar (Specialist Marketing Pepper, Cucumber & (water)Melon) about the development of shelf diversity and her perspectives on the future of the cucumber category. Join us as we delve into this timeline!
Supermarkets boosted organic vegetable sales
In the 30 years that Rijk Zwaan has been offering organic vegetable varieties, the most notable change has been the scaling up of the sector. “As demand from supermarkets has increased, organic farmers have grown too – both in Europe and worldwide,” say Crop Specialists Daan Heidema and Maarten van Geest. During this anniversary year for Rijk Zwaan, they reflect on the evolution of the organic sector and discuss their expectations of the future.
Rijk Zwaan opens new trial station in Vietnam’s Lam Dong region
Rijk Zwaan continues to expand its presence in Vietnam, where it has been active for nearly 15 years, including with its own subsidiary since 2017. The company’s recently opened a newly built trial station, located in the key horticultural hub of Lam Dong. This station will accelerate the development of vegetable varieties for the specific needs of Southeast Asian growers and the region’s fresh produce market. The official opening took place during Rijk Zwaan’s Centenary Celebrations.
The organic trial field enabled us to make a difference
The opening of the organic trial field in Welver, Germany, in the late 1990s was a significant step in promoting this wide range.
The evolution of production methods
Several crucial advancements in production methods occurred from 1980 to 1982, which was a period of high energy costs. This ‘energy crisis’ encouraged entrepreneurs to seek creative and efficient ways to capture energy. This is part two of the series where we celebrate nearly a century of cucumber activity. If you did not yet have the chance to read the first article about Breeding, please read more on the increasing diversity in cucumber breeding. In today’s article, we join Marcel van Koppen (Crop Co-ordinator Cucumber) in reflecting on the journey we have taken so far regarding production methods, and looking at what may still lie ahead in the future!
The increasing diversity in cucumber breeding
Despite being the most famous cucumber, the Long English cucumber is of course no longer the only type in the cucumber category. According to Eric, Rijk Zwaan has been involved in many important innovations over the past century.