Global vegetable genetics and services specialist, Nunhems, is delivering fresh new options to the high-tech tomato market in North Europe and North America.
The latest Nunhems tomato variety to be launched in June, Nun 09013 TOF* offers high-tech growers in these markets a new cherry-on-the-vine tomato for both traditional crops and those grown under artificial light. Inspired by the success of its award-winning, Intense™, the world’s first non-leaking tomato, Nunhems is exploring many new varieties for the competitive Northern high-tech tomato sector.
With more than 90 years expertise, Nunhems develops and supplies top quality vegetable seeds of 28 different crops to growers from all over the world. Nunhems has been breeding tomato varieties for many years and has already successfully developed a wide range of varieties for Eastern and Southern Europe, Mexico, South America, Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions. The tomato market welcomes fresh thinking, and with Nunhems’ extensive knowledge, reliability, crop team approach and global presence, the company is set to become an industry leader in the high tech tomato segment, as it has done in others.
Nun 09013 TOF* is a cherry-on-the-vine tomato that bears superior-tasting, deep-red cherry tomatoes of approximately 11-12 grams each. The variety produces long vines with 15-18 high-quality cherry tomatoes and has a high yield of fruit throughout the season. The variety very strong against cracking.
“Nun 09013 TOF* is an innovative, new solution that offers growers in high tech tomato markets an opportunity to truly enhance their business,” said Harm Ammerlaan, Nunhems’ Sales Specialist Tomato. “Nunhems listens intently to its customers, and to their customers, and monitors all market trends worldwide to assess where the unmet market opportunities and needs lie. We then explore and develop unique solutions. Nun 09013 TOF* is just one of the new tomato varieties that we will launch in the coming season. We will at least also introduce a high yielding, high quality cluster tomato as well as a very tasty cherry plum tomato for single harvest.”
Broad portfolio
Nunhems’ tomato portfolio for the high-tech sector will expand broadly over the next few years to include varieties in all tomato segments. Other cultivation methods for Intense™ tomatoes are also being explored.
“Alongside the worldwide success achieved with Intense™, the ‘non-leaking tomato’ that we launched in 2008, we look forward to introducing more market-leading products to the industry and are aiming to establish a top position in many segments of the tomato sector, as we have in other vegetable sectors,” added Harm.
Tomato, more than any other crop, has been extensively researched. Nunhems leverages the research and development gathered over many years to perfect its current genetic improvement program. Thanks to many years of well-documented research into tomatoes, there are many technological resources that Nunhems can leverage and a long list of diseases that it has been able to successfully develop resistances for already.
“Nunhems’ already has advanced knowledge about tomatoes and is gathering new expertise in this crop daily,” said Coert Engels, Nunhems’ Breeder High Tech Tomato Program. “We work closely with growers in the regions, and also collaborate with leading universities and institutes to develop better insights, and strengthen our expertise and genetic improvement program in tomatoes. In addition, Nunhems’ unique, crop-team structure means that we can more effectively and efficiently exchange information and coordinate development of individual crops across geographical boundaries.”
For tomatoes, this is particularly important, because it is a complex and challenging market with many different varieties, cultivation methods and protocols, market segmentation and differentiation across the world.
Sustainable solutions
Nunhems’ research and development strategy explores general features, such as sustainability, as well as specific market solutions in its genetic improvement program.
“Vegetable genetics has a key role to play in improving the sustainability of production, which has become a top priority for many growers,” explained Coert. “The high-tech tomato sector is particularly intensive and varieties that help tomato growers save lighting, heating or labor, reduce costs and benefit the environment.”
Talent
“We are delighted to expand our expertise in tomatoes even further,” said Michel Ten Hacken, Nunhems’ Global Head of Marketing and Sales. “With a well-rounded outlook on this additional market, Nunhems is set to become a leading talent in high tech tomatoes, as it has championed other tomato segments.”
About Nunhems
The vegetable seed business of Bayer CropScience operates under the brand Nunhems. Nunhems is the global specialist in vegetable genetics and services. As a globally integrated group of teams Nunhems builds unique customer relationships and shares products, concepts and expertise with the professional horticultural production industry and supply chain. The portfolio of Nunhems consists of varieties of 28 vegetable crops, including leading varieties of carrot, cucumber, leek, lettuce, melon, onion, pepper, tomato, and watermelon. With more than 1,800 employees, Nunhems is present in all major vegetable production areas in the world.
For more information please contact:
•Harm Ammerlaan, Sales Specialist Tomatoes
Mobile:+31 6 349 59 057, E-mail: harm.ammerlaan@bayer.com
•Veronique Savelkoul, Sales Specialist Tomatoes
Mobile: +32 471 252 303, E-mail: veronique.savelkoul@bayer.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
*under application for inclusion in the EC Common Catalogue of Vegetable Varieties.
Source: Nunhems
