From Aug 12th – 30th 2019, United Genetics Seeds hosted and welcomed all its partners to the annual solanaceae field day in Hollister, CA. This annual event brings together all its business partners from South Africa, to the Middle East, to Southeast Asia, to Brazil, and within the US.
This year was a special one for visitors as United Genetics, for the first time, allocated 1 full greenhouse to present a cross-section of its wide range of indeterminate tomato program. This was a joint effort from the company’s two indeterminate tomato breeding programs of the US and Italy. On trial were over 60 varieties spreading from saladettes, to rounds, beefs, pinks, oxhearts, mini-cherries, mini-plums, and to cocktails.
Increasing market
“Over the past few years, we have seen and experienced an increase in protected tomato cultivation in markets that UG (United Genetics Seeds) are active in. Markets that were once dominated by determinate saladettes have seen shifts into indeterminate saladettes due to the longer crop cycle and in some cases delivering better taste to consumers. As a member of Kagome and offering a vertically-integrated business model to the tomato industry, this trial is an important milestone for us here at the Hollister R&D station” says Michael McDaniel, Product Management and Marketing Lead.
The US breeding program is currently focusing on indeterminate tomato saladette and round types to support growers in markets such as Mexico where yield and resistance package is a must. While the Italian breeding program is focusing more towards cluster harvest round types, cocktails and all the specialties to support growers in Europe where taste is becoming more of a driving factor in the market. With this synergy in breeding programs, the company expects to offer ‘New Ideas’ for growers not just in the US market, but to growers across the Americas.
‘Sukita’ delivers high yield and flavor
An indeterminate mini-plum tomato variety with fruit size of 18-20gm. This very firm fruit has high tolerance to fruit cracking on a very vigorous plant. Growers can benefit from its TYLCV, ToMV, Fusarium race 0-1, For, and MaMiMj disease package. Sukita is one example of varieties being introduced in Spain under United Genetics Seeds.
For more information:
United Genetics Seeds
info@unitedgenetics-usa.com
www.unitedgenetics.com