Italy: Seminis-Monsanto presents Eshkol and Maraskino

Many growers took part in the Open Day at Seminis - Monsanto

The Open Day was the perfect occasion to officially present the two varieties and meet around 400 growers from south-eastern Sicily.

Below: Maraskino. Type: Cocktail plum
Weight: 35-40 gr. High resistance to: ToMV:0-2/TSWV/Fol:0,1/Va:O/Vd:O. Average resistance to: TYLCV/MA/Mi/Mj



Global Product Manager Tomato Anne Williams and Portfolio Marketing Manager Lucio Colombio also attended.

The global fresh produce market is increasingly dynamic, yet Seminis - Monsanto manages to combine the expectations of consumers with increasing attention to quality with producers' needs in mind.

"When developing new varieties, we listen to growers first. To us, it is essential to interpret the shared sentiment of producers."

Above: many producers attended the Open Day held at the Monsanto research facility in Acate (Rg)

"But products must not just be perfect when they come out of greenhouses - they need to be fresh when they reach consumer tables. This is why we also talk to the logistics and distribution sectors. In order to do all this, Monsanto carries out continuous research and experimentation activities, with thousands of tests performed during the various stages."



Varietal selection plays a fundamental role, just like breeding and greenhouse testing. In the case of Maraskino, tests showed it can be cultivated in extremely diverse conditions thanks to the fact that it adapts easily to both high and low temperatures.

"Our Technical Developers visit the crops every day to check the progress and share commitment and dedication with the growers."

Both Eshkol and Maraskino require intermediate attention and adapt very well with the Mediterranean soil.

Seminis - Monsanto puts its technicians at the disposal of businesses to provide assistance and advice so that no one is left behind.

Eshkol is particularly vigorous and has medium-long internodes and excellent post-harvest shelf-life. It is also resistant to TYLC.

Eshkol tomato plants transplanted on 30th January 2017. Vigorous with medium-long internodes. Fruits have a deep red colour and excellent grades. Regular bunches with 5-6 fruits. Excellent post-harvest shelf-life. Transplant calendar: in the north, January to late March with harvesting from mid-March to late August. Centre/south, January to late March and mid-July to mid-August with harvesting from mid-March to late November. In Sicily, January to late March with harvesting from mid-March to late November. 

The same goes for Maraskino which, in addition, has very fleshy fruit. Both varieties are extremely flavourful and are therefore perfect for Mediterranean dishes.

Maraskino, plants transplanted on 14th September 2016. Vigorous plant with medium-long internodes. Uniform fruit with a deep red colour. Elegant bunches with fleshy green parts. Excellent post-harvest shelf-life. Transplant calendar: in the north, between January and late July with harvesting from mid-March to mid-October. In the centre/south, between January and late July with harvesting from mid-March to mid-October. In Sicily, between January and late March and between late June and December with harvesting throughout the whole year. 

Anne Williams testified to the importance of the Sicilian territory for Seminis - Monsanto. "We learn more by spending time with growers in greenhouses than at university or at school. We try to understand the markets they supply so as to provide them with the answers they need for high-quality, healthy, flavourful produce."

Monsanto is especially focused on the healthiness of its products but it is also aware that, while sustainable, they need to be profitable for producers.

Watch the interview with Williams and Colombo


"Our scientific data is what we rely on to provide support to those who do this job. We try to favour production, keeping the natural resources used to a minimum, and trying to improve the life of growers." 

Below: De Ruiter - Monsanto rootstocks used for Eshkol and Maraskino


Contact Information: 
Monsanto Agricoltura Italia Spa

Paolo Pesaresi
Executive Area Manager Sicilia
paolo.pesaresi@monsanto.com
Cell +39-335-5208920
 
Nunzio Guastella
TD Pomodoro Italia
nunzio.guastella@monsanto.com
Cell +39-331-6593844