Seed breeder Rijk Zwaan ended a dominant year with a celebration of its new varieties and Tesco’s decision to work predominantly with their Caribbean cantaloupe melons.
In 2008 the Dutch seed specialists saw the first harvest of its new varieties including the Carribbean Gold RZ melon whose high brix value has already set the market alight as a firm favourite with its sweetness.
Vincent van Wolferen, Project co-ordinator at Rijk Zwaan, told freshinfo: “It’s been a year to remember and that’s been a lot to celebrate for everyone. We launched the Carribbean Gold on to the Brazilian market in October and it’s already massive out there.
“It is a very popular variety with growers as it is homogenous, meaning there is a consistency and reliability to it which obviously appeals as it reduces the chance of mistakes. It is never easy for growers to predict their harvest but our work helps to prevent wasted product in their harvest.”
In close cooperation with a number of European retailers and processing companies Rijk Zwaan is now working on the year round availability. By bringing the supply chains together they are trying to ensure the highest quality melons on the shelf and in the fruit salads on every day of the year.
“North-west Europeans buy with their eyes, it looks so fresh as people associate a yellow colour with ripeness so it has been very popular in the UK. The overall sweet flavour as it has a high brix value (13 as opposed to 11 previously) is assuring repeat buying,” said van Wolferen.
The Caribbean Gold has become popular with the likes of large retailers as Tescoand processing companies such as Del Monte, Nature’s Way Foods and Bakkavör work with the Caribbean genetics due to its flavour, firm but thin outer layer, lengthy shelf-life and small seed cavity.
“A crucial beneficial attribute for the processing companies is the fact they reach clear higher efficiently rates, so more fruit out of one melon. It is a very good quality product for the entire supply chain and we recognise the importance of an accepted variety in the supply chain.
“My task is to co-ordinate the product development with the service suppliers, the retailers and the foodservice industry. Next to that we are introducing new developments at this part of the chain to have the newest genetics in the stores quickest,” said van Wolferen.
Other examples of new products out of the Rijk Zwaan kitchen are the ‘one cut ready’ Salanova lettuce and Razymo RZ cluster tomatoes.
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