On Thursday March 26th, the De Ruiter team had the pleasure of inviting all French cucumber partners to an online event dedicated to De Ruiter varieties.
For this first cucumber webinar, approximately 30 French participants from the different cucumber branches (growers, advisers, cooperatives) attended this event, mainly from the Northern region but also from South of France. The webinar was divided in three parts: Presentation of the company's portfolio, Davida and growing tips, and De Ruiter innovation.
Participants were introduced to the full De Ruiter portfolio, including well known varieties: Davida, Loustik, and Garpo. Video content shared during the webinar can be found on the De Ruiter YouTube channel, alongside many others showcasing their portfolio.
Then, Gilbert Heijens technical consultant for Horti-Consult society presented Davida and best growing practices for a successful crop. From the plants to the fruit, Gilbert described all Davida’s characteristics. With its wide range of resistances, including; intermediate resistance to CGMMV and CMV and high resistance to powdery mildew, its high yield potential and good fruit quality, Davida is an enduring variety, suitable for a second crop in "umbrella" or "V" systems.
To ensure a successful season with the variety for all Davida growers, De Ruiter will send regular growing tips created by Gilbert. The first one is planned for April, entitled, ‘Good preparation and installation of the crop’. The growing tip will cover the following specific points: density, irrigation, climate, plant load and fruit selection.
To conclude, Cyrille Zini (Cucumber Breeder) and Francois Ravetti (Regional Product Manager) from Bayer Crop Science presented the De Ruiter range of mini-cucumbers. These cucumber types are well-known and already very popular in the Middle East and Poland. Interest levels are increasing in France, constituting an opportunity for growers to diversify their production by bringing new sizes, perfect for snacking, and more taste to the current cucumber market.
Utilising technology in these uncertain times, the De Ruiter team hopes to continue providing valuable information to their growers invite their partners to stay connected. Future webinars are already in the pipeline.
For more information:
De Ruiter Seeds
www.deruiterseeds.com
Lucile Fort
lucile.fort@bayer.com
Adeline Guirriec
adeline.guirriec@bayer.com
Maxime Coqué
maxime.coque@bayer.com