Ely, Cambridgeshire – UK vegetable seed company CN Seeds is making increasing advances in the important Spanish market thanks a growing demand among consumers for previously niche fresh products, such as kale and oriental vegetables, which are gaining ever greater acceptance across Europe.
At its second appearance at Spain’s Fruit Attraction trade fair, which will be staged at the Feria de Madrid exhibition grounds from 15-17 October, CN Seeds will have Spanish-speaking staff on its stand (5C06D) and will aim to make further gains in a market that has always proven to be quick to respond to demand for specialist products.
One of the products that is making just such advances, not just in Spain but across Europe, is Babyleaf Kale; a vegetable which is becoming increasingly recognised for both its high quality in terms of taste and also its multiple health benefits that make it one of the healthiest products available.
“There’s an ever increasing demand for kale in Spain and across Europe because people are becoming more aware of the product and its health benefits,” explained CN Seeds’ Craig Thomas.
Sweet-tasting and easy to cook in two minutes, Babyleaf Kale is a vegetable that has made a big
impact in the US and the UK over the last 12 months and looks set to do the same across Europe, thanks to the health benefits that kale – a Superfood – can deliver.
In fact, just 100g of cooked Babyleaf Kale contains 681 micrograms of Vitamin A1.
To further stimulate interest in the product, CN Seeds has recently launched Jagallo Nero, a distinctively-shaped Babyleaf kale with eye-catching serrated leaves that has proven highly successful in the US market.
Oriental vegetables and herbs
Other products that are sure to catch the eye of visitors to CN Seeds’ stand at Fruit Attraction include the company’s range of oriental vegetable seeds and herbs.
Pak choi Chifu F1 and Choy sum Gunsho are already strong sellers, with demand increasing year-on-year, while wild rocket Napoli – a quick growing variety for winter that combines uniformity with an upright habit and dark green leaf – has adapted very well to Spanish growing conditions.
Coriander Cruiser, a new slow bolting Coriander for the quality market has also performed well in Spanish trials during 2014. The herb boasts a compact habit with large leaves and vibrant dark green colour, and is now protected by Plant Breeders Rights.
Meanwhile, Squash Cartwheel F1 is a new hybrid, which is a significant improvement on older Patty Pan types, with precocious yellow fruit coloration that allows early stage harvest of quality fruit.
CN Seeds will also be using the trade fair to highlight its range of edible squash and Halloween pumpkins, which are gaining increasing acceptance in the Spanish domestic market as a result of the gradual adoption of Halloween traditions in the country.
Huge potential
Overall, Thomas believes there is plenty of room for further expansion of CN Seeds’ Spanish business and emphasises that the company is keen to use this year’s Fruit Attraction to bring even more CN varieties to the attention of Spanish growers.
“I think there’s a lot more potential for us in Spain – we have some very interesting material that adapts well to growing conditions there and we have a good supply chain into Spain, flexibility when it comes to processing and the advantage of in-house seed treating,” he added.
Based in Ely, Cambridgeshire, CN Seeds was established in 1990 by Chris Nye, father of current operations director Dan Nye, and now exports speciality vegetable seeds throughout Europe, the USA and Australasia.
Source: CN Seeds
