Nickerson-Zwaan plans to reduce the amount of brassicas the UK imports every year with new varieties.
“By combining the right brassica variety with the right climate, we can reduce brassica imports into the country over the next five years,” said Nickerson-Zwaan’s development manager, Nick Bolton, at the Brasssica Growers’ Biennial Conference exhibition at Warwick HRI on January 9.
“We are trying to find brassica varieties that withstand colder conditions so that the UK season can be extended until after Christmas, and we are also trying to find areas in the UK where the climate is most suitable for brassica production,” he added.
The seed breeding company had a variety of its extended season brassica products on display at the conference’s exhibition. The Monarchy pointed cabbage, which was originally launched under the name heart cabbage and has a production period from June to October, was amongst the products, as was its sister variety Duchy, which Nickerson-Zwaan now believes can extend the cabbage season until Christmas.
“In environmental terms, a reduction of imports would mean two months of not burning diesel and bringing product from Spain,” said Bolton. “We are also interested in breeding varieties that will store more effectively and for longer. If we can develop varieties that we can store past November it will also have a massive impact on our carbon footprint.”
No comments yet