The Canadian greenhouse industry and climate is often compared with the Netherlands. The greenhouses are similar; and the growers who are dedicated to achieving high yields and quality are confident in implementing efficient greenhouse technology. However, there is one big difference and that is the climate, which tends to be more extreme than the climate in Holland. That is why varieties that are successful in Dutch greenhouses, are not always the right solution for Ontario growers.
Rijk Zwaan tomato breeders Michel Weerdenburg and Jacques van Alphen
"The summers in Ontario, especially in the area of Leamington, can ask a lot from a crop," said breeder Michel Weerdenburg of Rijk Zwaan. Together with his colleague Jacques van Alphen, he visits the new, technically advanced, commercial standard, demonstration and trial greenhouse in Leamington twice a year. "As all of the breeding is done in the Netherlands, we need to get feedback and reliable data from the field in order to create a wide and high quality assortment for this region. These varieties might also be successful in other countries like Russia and Poland, where there are regions with similar growing conditions."
According to Van Alphen, the Leamington climate asks for a crop that has generative strength. "There is a very high temperature and humidity, especially during the summer months, when there is hardly any difference between the day and night climate. This demands a lot of energy from the plant, and sometimes the plants do not have enough vigor left to pull through. Thanks to the feedback from the trial greenhouse in Leamington, we can accurately adjust our breeding strategy and programs to find a solution for this challenge."
The Rijk Zwaan facility in Leamington serves as a demonstration greenhouse and a selection facility. Weerdenburg: "We have our standard product range with new introductions here, just like any other demo house. This also gives us a good possibility to gain more practical experience with these varieties But as well as this we will have a large amount of new numbers, and twice per year we make selection rounds based on the outcome of the experience in the Leamington climate and implement this data into our breeding work in Holland."
Head grower Arti Goce of Howard Huy Farms
The demo crops and trials in Rijk Zwaan's demonstration greenhouse in Leamington are observed by head grower Arti Goce of Howard Huy Farms. He is responsible for the crops in Leamington and stands in close connection with the tomato breeders in the Netherlands. Besides being responsible for the climate and crop, he and his crop team are also performing extensive crop registration; plant growth, production length, head size, flowering truss, fruit setting, fruit load and fruit harvesting and fruit registration (total kg, fruit weight, kg/m2, brix level in fruits and fruit quality assessment).
The demonstration area in Leamington is similar to Rijk Zwaan's demo centre in the Netherlands.
According to the breeders, it will not take long before Rijk Zwaan will come up with the first introductions that are tailored to the Leamington climate. "It is known that breeding is a lengthy process, it is a process that can take years. But as we are one of the few commercial breeders that have a dedicated facility like this, we are confident that we will be one of the first breeders with special varieties for Leamington growing conditions, as this definitely speeds up the entire process."
For more information:
Rijk Zwaan Canada
Marleen van der Torre (e-mail)
932 Mersea Road 7 RR. #5
Leamington, ON
N8H 3V8 | Canada
export@rijkzwaan.nl
www.rijkzwaan.com