International range
Watermelons are a true summer crop that loves plenty of sun and nice, hot weather, so that the main growing areas are to be found in China, Turkey and the Balkan countries, as well as in all the countries around the Mediterranean. Rijk Zwaan focuses on breeding two watermelon types: SugarBaby and Crimson. With specific varieties for different growing areas we are working on an international range, in which Rijk Zwaan wants to distinguish itself with a strong crop and good fruit characteristics.

Reliable
Our target, within the watermelon segment, is the fresh market in particular, for which we strive to develop a reliable crop that performs well in all conditions. Setting has to be easy and, preferably, not too early so that the crop gets a chance to develop. Resistances are also a major help in keeping the crop healthy. For a number of specific markets we are working on creating seedless fruits. And, last but not least, we always strive for an excellent presentation, flavour and colour.

New trends
At Rijk Zwaan we are increasingly looking for varieties that are specifically suitable for processors, thus playing into the trend for fresh-fruit salads. Important for these varieties is that they produce seedless fruits, with an average fruit size and excellent colour which is retained even after processing. At the moment Rijk Zwaan focuses mainly on melons with red fruit flesh but in the future more colours can be included in the range. Yellow fruit flesh for example is already an interesting niche market.

Many usage aims
Rijk Zwaan has tomatoes for various target groups and various usage aims. We have, for instance, extra small tomatoes that allow youngsters to eat them as sweets, but much healthier for them. Other tomatoes are specifically suited to be sold as truss tomatoes. We also have a growing number of rootstocks in our range which provide growers with a higher yield or better resistance to disease.

Flavour first and foremost
Rijk Zwaan is known for consciously choosing flavour and labour-friendliness for growers. Other traits we select our varieties on are a nice red colour and firm fruit with a long shelf life. The various usage aims also require specific traits. Our truss tomatoes, for instance, have nice green parts and we have varieties that are ideal for the processing industry.

Working on resistance
Harmful viruses are constantly putting pressure on tomato cultivation. That is the reason why our breeders are, therefore, constantly working on new resistances which help growers grow a healthy crop. A widening choice of rootstocks can also contribute to this. Moreover, by looking for ideal combinations of cultivar and rootstock, higher productions are possible, always with quality and flavour as preconditions.

Many usage aims
Rijk Zwaan has tomatoes for various target groups and various usage aims. We have, for instance, extra small tomatoes that allow youngsters to eat them as sweets, but much healthier for them. Other tomatoes are specifically suited to be sold as truss tomatoes. We also have a growing number of rootstocks in our range which provide growers with a higher yield or better resistance to disease.

Flavour first and foremost
Rijk Zwaan is known for consciously choosing flavour and labour-friendliness for growers. Other traits we select our varieties on are a nice red colour and firm fruit with a long shelf life. The various usage aims also require specific traits. Our truss tomatoes, for instance, have nice green parts and we have varieties that are ideal for the processing industry.

Working on resistance
Harmful viruses are constantly putting pressure on tomato cultivation. That is the reason why our breeders are, therefore, constantly working on new resistances which help growers grow a healthy crop. A widening choice of rootstocks can also contribute to this. Moreover, by looking for ideal combinations of cultivar and rootstock, higher productions are possible, always with quality and flavour as preconditions.

Various shapes
Carrots are grown mainly outdoors, and on a limited scale in glasshouses and plastic tunnels. The product is often sold directly off-the-field but there are also varieties for storage during the winter: in huge cold stores or covered with straw out in the field. The types that are used worldwide differ especially in shape. A number of classic shapes are round ‘Paris Market’, cylindrical Amsterdam Forcing and Nantes. On top of that there are very many intermediate shapes.

Mechanisation
Many carrot crops are precision-drilled by machine and lifted mechanically. The processes of washing and packing are usually also mechanised. This needs specific traits and at Rijk Zwaan we are working hard on these. Moreover, we also focus on disease resistances and good product qualities for the various buyers. Some of these are: storage life, flavour and dry-matter content. But good and uniform germination vigour and the right shape and size of the seed also come into it.

Flavour research
Breeding carrot varieties is more and more a matter of tailoring, with growers asking for certain combinations of traits from different types. Some of these could be, for instance, shape, earliness and size and there are different colours, including white, purple and yellow. Rijk Zwaan also invests a lot of energy in research. In order to reduce the use of chemical pest and disease control we work on resistances to pests and diseases and by means of research and tasting panels we improve the flavour.