Trend-setters seek out organic and much more

Bringing organic growers and retailers together is part of a sustainable business approach being advocated by a leading supplier of organic produce. Going one step further, growers are describing their production methods via Internet to encourage demand for organic produce.

Modern trends in fruit breeding

Breeding is no longer a simple case of increasing productivity. Disease resistance, quality and, increasingly, demands from processors and retailers who want to promote health and nutritional qualities are changing breeding criteria and priorities.

X-rays to grade internal seed quality

X-ray technology which allows the quality of the seed embryo to be assessed and graded is about to make a breakthrough in the commercial upgrading of seed. In future, it could even assess the hybrid vigour of the seed, its viability as a young plant and its potential yield.

Breeders back trend towards functional foods

Fresh cut for (year-round) convenience or functional fresh produce for health are just a couple of factors driving breeding companies in the 21st century. Innovation is driven by the anticipation that today’s trends will trickle further and deeper along the production chain.

A. swirskii keeps predators at bay 

After extensive research, many growers successfully used the new predatory mite Amblyseius

swirskii last season to control mainly thrips and/or white fly. Research showed the positive

effects of Amblyseius swirskii in sweet pepper, cucumber and aubergine cultivation and many

growers have been convinced of its power in practice.

Shedding light on tomatoes

Each year brings growers more experiences with artificial lighting, but many questions still

remain unanswered. Dutch tomato growers have been discussing current trends in growing and the market, and solutions to erratic flight patterns in bumblebees.

In-situ sterilisation of substrate slabs

In the past, small-scale trials showed that steam sterilisation of substrate slabs directly on the

cultivation gutter was an interesting option. A prototype of a steam injection unit has recently

shown its worth in practice in between two plantings of crops. Although further improvement

would be optimal, the steamer fulfilled the expectations.

How temperature effects the development of pests and beneficials

Temperature is one of the most important mechanisms to control plant growth. On plant level,

temperature effects photosynthesis, growth, evaporation and dissimilation. Additionally, temperature has a significant impact on pests and their natural enemies.

Coloured sweet peppers not yet available year round

Harvesting red sweet peppers, grown under supplementary lighting, early in the season was

found to seriously affect crop development last season. No matter how high the lighting

intensity is, the first sweet peppers have to be harvested when they are still green. This avoids

the plant being exhausted and ensures responsible production, concludes one Dutch sweet

pepper grower.

Setting a course with the ‘Tomato Compass’

How can growers and customers stay on course in the current tomato market, where the various varieties and types of tomato jostle for attention? To introduce structure into the huge range on offer, Dutch marketing giant The Greenery introduced the ‘Tomato Compass’, during the German trade fair Fruit Logistica.

German exhibition welcomes entire fresh produce chain

Capabilities and achievements of the entire added value chain starred at Fruit Logistica, held 1-3 February in Berlin. This year again the fresh produce trade show noted a record attendance.

Big future for small vegetables in Asia

It’s a serious question for vegetable breeders to consider: will the demand for small vegetables in Asia increase or decrease? Small and uniform eventually seems to be most likely: in the future the Chinese market will have a demand for single consumer size packages of fresh vegetables, are already gaining in popularity in Europe and the USA.

How to make sure clear water is also clean

One of horticulture’s most essential resources is water. However, since demand for high quality water is rising, availability is scarce. Therefore, conservation and cost of water are major issues facing worldwide commercial horticultural production in the 21st century.

Hi-tech paints keep whitewash in fashion

Compared with 20 years ago, whitewash as a shading paint has undergone a technological

revolution. Because it can now be removed easily and some of the special paints allow PAR light

to penetrate the greenhouse, it is back in fashion again.