Next month’s Global Tomato Congress shows the importance of specialists from across the supply chain coming together and sharing insights, research and fresh ideas for the benefit of the entire category
Key speakers at Global Tomato Congress will offer delegates the benefits of their consumer research into what shoppers are looking for in terms of taste, look, packaging and messaging when the tomato event returns to The Hague on 14-15 May.
Arnaud Lefebvre and Zinaida Kapustina of Franco-Moroccan producer Azura, Martijn Van Keulen of Dutch producer RedStar, Maria Wieloch of Swedish retailer Ica, Glenn Segrebts of Belgium’s BelOrta, Margriet Looije of Dutch producer Looye and Said Ourraich of Morocco’s Delassus will discuss how best to respond to these insights in terms of displaying tomatoes and communicating their quality and different ways to consume them.
The event then investigates what tools are being developed to aid growers in this effort. Eva Ketel of Wageningen Research reveals research on measuring and predicting the quality of tomatoes using non-destructive sensors and imaging.
We ask how technology, including big data and AI, can help growers to meet consumers’ expectations on quality and sustainability, with presentations from Cedric Canocas of Source.ag, Martin van Tol of Let’s Grow, Sam Gui of Biobest and Ronald Hoek of Blue Radix.
We will also hear from leading breeding companies including Rijk Zwaan, Hazera and BASF Nunhems on the importance of maintaining flavour as they develop varieties that have greater resistance against ToBRFV and require fewer pesticides.
Global Tomato Congress will also take a look at the tomato category in North America, inviting Nathan Pumplin of California-based Norfolk Healthy Produce to talk about his experience in the US and the launch of the company’s Purple Tomato.
Since this year’s event is focused on taste, throughout the congress delegates will get to taste original delicious recipes created using particular taste-focused tomato varieties by well-known Belgian chef Bart Sablon.
The second day of the event includes tours focused on taste and innovation, with trips to TomatoWorld and Wageningen Research, as well as to Koppert Cress, where “horticulture meets gastronomy” in a separate category.
Don’t hesitate to register.
