Market Information
Mr . Yoav Levy , Hazera ' s Regional Product Manager for Cucurbits
Hazera display new
cucumber developments
Hazera , the vegetable seed company , has had a long history of breeding cucumbers and has made game-changing improvements in cucumber genetics .
Hazera ' s Global Cucurbits product manager Mark van der Zouwen released a statement outlining the company ' s improvements in cucumber genetics , as well as embracing other types of cucumber , conquering new markets , and exploring new marketing possibilities .
Mark van der Zouwen : “ Hazera ' s heritage started in mini cucumber , that are mostly grown in non-heated greenhouses in the Mediterranean region , in the Middle East , Central Asia and in the Americas as well . Today mini cucumbers are grown as well in heated greenhouses in North America and northern Europe . Hazera now covers the complete range . We introduced many breakthrough innovations since the nineteen eighties . For example strong improvements in fruit quality ( uniform shape and colour ), drastic yield improvement , adaptability to different growing conditions and more recently long shelf life . In the early eighties we also started specialising in the long type for nonheated greenhouses , mostly in the Mediterranean region . Here we introduced similar innovations , including extended shelf life ( many remember the Suprami variety ) and lately we came up with varieties combining resistances to both powdery mildew and virus diseases such as CVYV and CYSDV . In the mini types , Hazera is now in the top 3 of breeding companies worldwide , with varieties that are very well adapted to the Mediterranean , Middle Eastern and Central American markets . Mark : “ Our market shares in mini are growing steadily , and we have extended our breeding activities , locating them in the very middle of these regions . Beside successful varieties for spring-summer like the Bereket and Dennis , we now launch new varieties also for the more stressful cool season as successors to Cohiba . A very interesting development is the midi cucumber for heated greenhouses like our spring-autumn variety Nikifor that is giving high yield and fruit quality , for example in Poland where high-tech growers are using it .”
“ �is is a winter variety with excellent color , lenghth and shelf life and resistance to viruses . �e developments in long cucumber breeding in Spain will certainly have a positive consolidation in other regions with similar growing conditions , such as Greece , Mexico , Oceania and South Africa .” What will the cucumber future look like for Hazera ? Mark :” We will further extend our breeding activities to all important regions for this worldwide crop . Our rich gene pool will be used to create genetic diversity netuned to the major production areas . Disease resistances , especially to root and viral diseases will be crucial , and could be a way to avoid costly gra�ing . We ' ll adapt our varieties to effective high yield growing techniques . And last but not least we will develop products responding to the needs of the entire fresh produce chain . �e aim is to look for possible innovations to turn bulk products into products that offer better convenience and superior added value to consumers . A�er all they are the ones who consume the nal product and for whom we are working every day .”
www . farmersreviewafrica . com January - February 2017
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