Year-round lettuce cultivation

Rijk Zwaan officially registered its first lettuce variety, Regina RZ, in 1953. It was a major turning point, because the variety produced a nice head of lettuce in the greenhouse even on shorter days. “So growers were able to cultivate full, attractive lettuces rather than sad-looking ones all through the winter,” says Henk van Lenteren, who worked at Rijk Zwaan for more than 50 years. The variety laid the basis for year-round lettuce cultivation, which to this day ensures that consumers can enjoy fresh lettuce every day.

Handling orders for his father

In 1924, Mr Rijk Zwaan founded a breeding company with an assortment of lettuce varieties. In those days, they had descriptions rather than names, such as ‘Amerikaansche roodbrand’ or ‘Fransche latuw’.

Henk (aged 73) has no personal memories of that time, of course, but he has unrivalled knowledge of the history of lettuce breeding. When he was just 13 years old, he was handling orders for his father, who worked at Rijk Zwaan as a sales representative. In 1970, when Henk was 20, he joined the company himself as a selector, with lettuce as one of the main crops.

Buying the rights to Regina RZ

The first major turning point in lettuce breeding had occurred about two decades earlier. The greenhouse sector was booming at the time, says Henk. “Regina marked the beginning of Rijk Zwaan’s success. Our representatives found a mutant at a grower in Pijnacker. It grew fast even on short days, producing thicker leaves and a nice head even with less light. Rijk Zwaan bought the rights to that ‘early French frame type’ for 3,000 guilders, which was a lot of money in those days. With this first registered variety, called Regina, growers could successfully grow full, attractive heads of lettuce in winter instead of the sad-looking ones that had been the norm up until then.”

A grower’s letter about Deciso

Along with other genetic material, that variety marked the start of targeted breeding for indoor and open-field cultivation, for all seasons and with an increasingly international focus. Thanks to the close contact between growers, representatives and breeders, Rijk Zwaan knew what the market needed. “In 1961, this led to the successful lettuce variety called Deciso RZ,” says Henk. “Customers really liked it. One grower was so happy with its quality and yield that he even sent us a letter about it. It’s nice that the letter has survived.”

High-speed resistance breeding

Once Henk joined the company in 1970, he experienced for himself how crucial good collaboration was – and still is – between customers, crop specialists, breeders and all other employees in the company, especially when breeding resistances.

“If a Bremia resistance became ineffective, we heard about it very quickly, so our breeders were able to immediately start developing new resistant varieties. Combined with seed production, handling and distribution, our streamlined operation ran like a high-speed train, which was very beneficial for our customers. Competitors sometimes called us a ‘TGV’. That speed is still our strength today.”

Like being at the Keukenhof

In the decades that followed, Henk’s responsibilities expanded to include operations and seed quality, He recalls the lettuce range being broadened in terms of leaf types, colours and uses, not least due to internationalisation. “Consumers in France were used to other leaf types, and our expansion into Spain and Italy further increased the diversity. Thanks to our breeders’ creativity, we now offer a wonderful range of colours. When you stand in a selection field, it’s almost like being at the Keukenhof flower gardens.”

Values remain relevant

Although Henk retired some years ago, he doesn’t have time to visit the Keukenhof himself because he still very much enjoys working part-time as a consultant for Rijk Zwaan. “Back in 1970, there were 70 employees in De Lier. Today, the company employs 4,000 people worldwide. That’s incredible! Nevertheless, the original values are still relevant. Thanks to working together with customers on all continents, we can respond to their needs – now and in the future. Lettuce breeding remains top of mind for Rijk Zwaan.”