Stories - 18-01-2023
The Alzamora pepper is a perfect fit with our market
Less heating, more screening – that’s how pepper growers are responding to the high energy prices. Even in a less active greenhouse climate, the new red blocky pepper Alzamora RZ achieves excellent production levels of outstanding fruits. “The variety not only continues to produce top-quality peppers, but it’s also labour-friendly,” says Sander Noe, Crop Manager at pepper specialist VD Holland. With this unique variety, Rijk Zwaan contributes to the ‘fresh foundation’ for countless pepper growers. The company is presenting this game-changer in line with its theme of ‘Freshly Forward, from Foundation to Future’ at Fruit Logistica in Berlin.
Alzamora is aligned with market demands
Sander Noe trialled the variety in two different locations last year and he immediately spotted its potential. For a high-tech company like VD Holland, which grows red and orange peppers on 43 hectares, a variety with so many advantages can make a big difference. “We supply a lot to UK retailers who have extremely high standards. We noticed that Alzamora achieved higher production levels without compromising on quality. Moreover, the sizing is perfect for us because the UK market prefers slightly smaller peppers up to 200 grams. That’s why we’ve switched completely this year. Alzamora is now our only red pepper variety.”
Saving energy with a second screen
Because VD Holland makes use of geothermal heat and a biomass plant for some of its heating needs, the company is able to keep its energy costs in check. Nevertheless, opportunities to save money are always welcome according to Noe: “It is inevitable that we will need to reduce our energy consumption in the future. We’re increasingly using the second screen to retain the heat. Even though that increases the humidity, Alzamora isn’t susceptible to internal rot. Besides that, its open habit means that the variety is labour-friendly; topping, twisting and harvesting all take less time. Moreover, we achieved 5% more yield last year because its generative nature means that the variety just keeps producing fruit. With more kilos, quality, a nice blocky shape and no problems – that’s how Alzamora helps our company to move ‘freshly forward’.”
Early production
Erwin Weerheim, Account Manager and Crop Specialist at Rijk Zwaan, is happy that Alzamora supports success for VD Holland and other customers. “As Sander explained, the fruits aren’t huge. But the variety achieves a high production level early on in the year, plus the fruits of each setting are very quick to change colour. The first fruits are already hanging in Alzamora before other varieties have even thought about setting!”
Contributing to the future
Additionally, thanks to requiring less energy, the variety makes an important contribution to the future of crop production. “Whereas a grower’s typical annual gas consumption is 30-35m3 per square metre, in the case of Alzamora it’s around 25m3 and sometimes even only 20m3. Even when grown at a slightly lower 24-hour temperature, the crop remains open and the peppers don’t get too big. That has already caused a significant market shift in the Netherlands and we expect that Alzamora can be beneficial in other high-tech markets too,” he states.
Join Rijk Zwaan in moving Freshly Forward
‘Freshly Forward, from Foundation to Future’ – this is the theme Rijk Zwaan has chosen to encapsulate its roadmap for tackling today’s challenges, together with its partners. We will be presenting robust and resilient solutions as well as inspiring innovations at Fruit Logistica 2023 (Hall 1.2, D-13). You are also welcome to visit the Rijk Zwaan Retail Centre in Berlin – the company’s very own experience and research facility.
Join Rijk Zwaan in moving Freshly Forward! Read more inspiring stories on this page.
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