Hazera and TOP The Onion Group join forces in exclusive partnership for set onions
Posted on May 20, 2025
Focusing on quality, innovation, and shared expertise for the grower.
Hazera and TOP The Onion Group have entered into an exclusive, worldwide collaboration agreement for the supply of set onion seeds. From now on, Hazera will supply exclusively to TOP, who is responsible for the production and global distribution of first-year onion sets.
This strategic partnership goes beyond mere supply — both parties combine their strengths in variety development, cultivation guidance, and market knowledge. Hazera focuses on genetics and breeding, while TOP handles production.
Rien Murre (TOP The Onion Group) and Dirk Essing (Hazera)
A key competitive advantage is the cultivation in Northern France — a region with fertile, disease-free fields ideally suited for high-quality onion sets. Thanks to this unique position, TOP The Onion Group can provide growers with extremely reliable and vigorous planting material.
The shared goal is to supply growers worldwide with healthy and reliable planting material, tailored to diverse growing conditions. Hazera’s well-known onion varieties such as Crusado, Contado, Cupido, and Corrado are part of the portfolio and continue to be developed.
Innovating together for the future of onions
Erwin Groen (TOP The Onion Group) and Dirk Essing (Hazera) emphasize that the partnership enables them to respond faster to changing market conditions and to continue innovating together. Through knowledge sharing and close cooperation, they develop strong, practical varieties of high quality. This partnership is a win-win that raises the reliability and quality of onion sets to a higher level.
#GrowingTogether #InvestedExpertise
HAZERA: Growing Together
Hazera’s headquarters are situated in Israel and The Netherlands, with subsidiaries in twelve countries and an extensive distribution network providing services in over 100 additional markets. This worldwide presence enables us to be close to our customers.
Hazera is part of the Limagrain Group, an international agri-business based in France. Being a farmers’ cooperative, the Limagrain Group understands the needs of its customers and has grown to become the largest seed company in Europe, specialising in vegetables, field crops and cereal products. Limagrain’s vegetable seed division is the largest company in the industry.
Hazera Introduces new packaging design as part of Its rebranding journey
Posted on Apr 04, 2025
Same seed quality, fresh new look!
Hazera, a global leader in the vegetable seed business, is excited to introduce a refreshed packaging design, delivering the same high-quality seeds with a modern, sustainable twist.
Over the past year, Hazera has undergone a comprehensive rebranding process, updating its visual identity with a contemporary graphic language that better reflects the brand’s core values. This transformation is now extending to our packaging.
As part of this change, Hazera is taking steps towards greater sustainability by transitioning to more environmentally friendly packaging by eliminating the use of cans.
What’s New?
A redesigned logo, updated colors, and a fresh graphic look
Improved sustainability—transitioning away from metal cans
What Remains the Same?
The same seed quality you trust
Our unique security hologram for guaranteed authenticity
Familiar package sizes
Same packaging materials
This transition will occur gradually. If you still receive the previous design, rest assured that the new packaging will be available in your future orders.
For more information, please contact: www.hazera.com / or check our social channels
HAZERA: Growing Together Hazera Seeds is a global company that develops, produces, and commercialize seed varieties and is a global leader in the seed industry. Hazera has headquarters in both the Netherlands and Israel and operates subsidiaries in 11 countries, together with a distribution network serving over 130 markets.
Hazera is part of the Limagrain Group, an international farmers’ cooperative based in France. Limagrain has grown into the largest seed company in Europe, specializing in vegetables, field crops and cereals. The vegetable seed division at Limagrain is the largest in the industry
New collaboration: Innovative Tech for Monitoring Pollinators in Seed Production Fields
Posted on Jan 13, 2025
Hazera Seeds Ltd. and BeeHero Announce Collaborationto Evaluate Innovative Technology for Monitoring Pollinators in Seed Production Fields Around the Globe
The collaboration between Hazera and BeeHero will focus on BeeHero’s Pollination Insights Platform (PIP), whose aim is to provide farmers with precise information about pollination activity in seed fields
Tel Aviv, ISRAEL, January 15, 2025 – Hazera, a global vegetable seeds company and part of Limagrain Group’s vegetable seeds division, and BeeHero, the pioneer of data-driven precision pollination, announced a collaboration to evaluate BeeHero’s Pollination Insight Platform (PIP) for monitoring pollinators in seed production fields around the globe. This collaboration is the result of several years of joint efforts, including the use and evaluation of PIP in various seed fields.
According to Avi Gabai, Production Research Manager at Hazera, “As a leading company in the vegetable seed industry and part of the global Limagrain Group, we are excited to collaborate with a company specializing in precision pollination. Our ongoing collaboration with BeeHero since 2019 demonstrates that BeeHero’s technology can address one of the most critical challenges in modern agriculture – pollination. Our collaboration has shown that BeeHero’s technology can improve pollination efficiency, hive quality, and address the issue of bee colony loss.”
Efficient pollination is essential for seed production and agriculture in general, affecting yield and crop quality. Approximately 75% of major food crops depend on pollinators, with the honeybee being one of the most important pollinators in nature. The modern pollination industry, based on the transportation of beehives to fields during the pollination season, faces challenges such as declining bee populations and hive strength. Therefore, improving pollination efficiency is crucial to ensuring crop yield and quality. This is equally true for crops used in seed production, which have high economic value and strategic importance for human survival.
The Pollination Insights Platform (PIP) developed by BeeHero aims to ensure the pollination process and to provide real-time actionable information to farmers. This system includes IoT sensors installed in fields that collect various data on pollinator activity, the extent of flower visits where pollination occurs, and changing environmental conditions. This information is translated into actionable insights using artificial intelligence to improve pollination efficiency. Until now, this data was collected manually, partially, and inefficiently, so this solution can help farmers increase their overall productivity. The PIP system complements BeeHero’s in-hive sensors, enhancing their functionality.
The current collaboration between the two companies includes monitoring seed production fields in Israel and France, with plans to expand to additional regions in future seasons. The sensors installed in these fields measure bee activity, pollination distribution, bee behavior throughout the day, and other insights transmitted in real time to farmers, enabling them to maximize pollination capabilities in their fields – and consequently, the yield and quality of the seeds.
According to Omer Davidi, CEO and Co-Founder of BeeHero, “We are excited about our collaboration with Hazera, which combines extensive knowledge in seed production with advanced sensor technology and AI-based analytics to drive significant improvements in crop yield and quality while promoting sustainable agricultural practices. PIP allows for efficient pollination management for the first time, demonstrating how data and technology can advance an industry that has so far operated without measurement and transparency. We’re looking forward to continue working together with Hazera to optimize pollination for seed production and ensure the food supply for generations to come.”
Avi Gabai adds, “The heart of the collaboration lies in combining BeeHero’s technology with Hazera’s agricultural expertise. We support sustainable farming methods by improving bee health and ensuring more efficient resource use. Feedback we received from growers shows that data analysis from BeeHero’s system provided practical insights for beekeepers and farmers, and assisted them to optimize production methods and could potentially increase overall yield. By using BeeHero’s technology, we aim to increase seed yield and reduce yield volatility through remote monitoring of pollination activity.”
According to Gabai, “As part of the Limagrain Group, we promote innovative agricultural methods worldwide and implement them within the group. The collaboration with BeeHero represents a significant step forward in improving bee health, pollination efficiency, and advancing agricultural innovation.”
Hazera’s new high-tech R&D greenhouse, unveiled last week in Made, the Netherlands, marks a significant milestone in the company’s ambition to become a leader in the high-tech tomato industry. The nearly 5-hectare facility, located next to Hazera’s headquarters, will serve as a cutting-edge hub for research and development.
This investment, supported by Limagrain’s vegetable seed division, aims to enhance Hazera’s research capabilities, focusing on developing tomato varieties with strong disease resistance (particularly to ToBRFV), high yield and excellent taste.
The official opening was done by the Mayor of Made-Drimmelen. From left to right Elad Shalit (Hazera), Gilles Gay (Limagrain), Mayor of Made-Drimmelen Mr. Scholtze, Milena Vulcheva (Deputy CEO Hazera) and Mary van Laar (Hazera)
The greenhouse is repurposed from an existing commercial operation, which aligns with Hazera’s commitment to sustainability. This facility will also allow Hazera to refine its breeding techniques and accelerate the development of innovative tomato varieties that meet evolving market needs. By leveraging advanced technology and expertise in breeding, Hazera aims to help growers overcome challenges and improve the quality of their crops.
The Netherlands, as a hub for high-tech tomato production, provides the ideal setting for this initiative, and Hazera envisions its new greenhouse as a vital tool for driving innovation and growth in the global high-tech tomato market.
Big thanks to the team
After the presentations and a tour of the greenhouse, we had the opportunity to discuss the future of tomato breeding in person with our partners. We also took the time to express our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated team of employees and contractors who worked on the construction of the new greenhouse.
Ready for the future “This new greenhouse demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and efficiency, as well as extension of business operations”, says the new appointed Deputy CEO Milena Vulcheva. “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed to this intensive period. This is a key milestone in our drive for innovation and ambition to become a leader in the high-tech tomato industry. Together with our partners worldwide we will build a sustainable future.”
A fresh boost for the region of Made “The acquisition and renovation of André van Zeijl’s greenhouse by Hazera provides a fresh boost to Plukmade” according to Mayor Scholtze of Made-Drimmelen. “Since 1999, Hazera has had its operations in Made, and this expansion further stimulates local employment and commercial activity. It is something we, as a municipality, are proud of.”
For more information, please contact: www.hazera.com / or check our social channels
HAZERA: Growing Together Hazera Seeds is a global company that develops, produces, and commercialize seed varieties and is a global leader in the seed industry. Hazera has headquarters in both the Netherlands and Israel and operates subsidiaries in 11 countries, together with a distribution network serving over 130 markets.
Hazera is part of the Limagrain Group, an international farmers’ cooperative based in France. Limagrain has grown into the largest seed company in Europe, specializing in vegetables, field crops and cereals. The vegetable seed division at Limagrain is the largest in the industry
Explore Hazera’s latest product range and visit our International Open Days 2024 in week 39, the Netherlands ‘Connect your senses’
Posted on Sep 13, 2024
Growers and industry partners are warmly welcomed to Hazera’s large demo field. Here you can find the complete range of field vegetables, including those of our sister companies Vilmorin and HM.Clause. The tent also shows the top varieties in various fruit vegetables. On the field, our product managers and cultivation specialists will be happy to update you on our latest developments. It is the place to exchange experiences with professionals from more than 50 countries and to see automatic planting and harvesting demonstrations.
The highlights at a glance:
Onion – High yield, high quality!
Hazera is an important supplier of hard onions for storage. In the field you will find the new top varieties 37-136, Nico, Storo, Rondo & Prospero, the long day segment with an very strong bulb, storage quality and a high yield potential.
Successful leek portfolio
Our yield increaser Vigora is central to our leek field: a flexible variety, well adapted to stressful conditions. Suitable for the fresh market and very strong performance for processing. Also special attention for Signora: a leek variety with a very strong disease resistance package. In addition to these 2 new commercial varieties, we also show you our newest varieties in development.
Brassicas – Reliable quality in a changing environment
Our environment and consumer preferences are constantly changing and Hazera breeding offers solutions for these diverse market needs with our new and established varieties! Take a look at white cabbage 17-1856: a promising versatile cabbage for summer and early autumn production. Suitable for short storage and strong against thrips. We also present you 14-712. A new and excellent Savoy cabbage. The combination of FoC and Xcc resistance makes this variety unique. With very dark green blister heads. Pointed cabbage Earl is also a cabbage that deserves attention: a very uniform, high-yielding summer variety. The new cauliflower varieties 10-1283 for the fresh market and Icerok for the industry are also in the field; a rock-hard cauliflower for the production of florets.
Four new varieties can be seen in the broccoli. This makes it possible to significantly improve the harvest percentages. The very early variety First Lap is strong against cat’s eyes and is widely available. HMC35536 is for the summer and early autumn and is also in the ring trials this year. In addition, growers can get to know Hyb9376 and a new calebrini variety (Hyb0857) for stem broccoli.
Radish
Special attention is also given to our extensive radish range. Including of course the winner of the Albert Heijn grocery store consumer best product of the year winner: Purpella & Whitella. But also newcomer 34-569: a red new round hybrid for indoor cultivation. With a firm, pure white interior for both bunch and pre-packaging, Radish Pepito and Resito will be two of our recommended radishes.
Tomatoes that work for you
Hazera also presents the ToBRFV-resistant tomato varieties in the tent. Such as the snack tomatoes Pendragon and Windsor: both with a long shelf life, a crunchy bite and a high yield potential. Both varieties are suitable for high-tech growing conditions or mid-tech greenhouses.
Watermelons – top quality
Meet our mini seedless watermelon Exotica. This variety was presented as part of the assortment during the Fruit Logistica Innovation 2024: Exotica is a handy size seedless mini watermelon, with a long shelf life, traditional taste and a great color & crunchiness.
Cucumber
Hazera has a long tradition in cucumber breeding. As one of the first companies in the world to develop short cucumbers, we are busy innovating, improving and gradually expanding to more cucumber varieties, such as the long Dutch cucumbers & baby cucumbers. During these open days we put our baby cucumbers in the spotlight.
And not to forget; our (lamb’s) lettuce, (curly)endive, fennel, celery & carrots…
There is plenty of attention for the leafy vegetables with an extensive range of iceberg lettuce, butterhead lettuce and romaine lettuce and (curly) endive. There is also an extensive range of lamb’s lettuce (in which the different leaf shapes can be compared with the main variety Audace). In the carrots, the focus is on Northern Europe. Here are the varieties for the deep-freeze industry, the large carrots for cutting, the baby carrots and the storage carrots (Nantes and Berlicum). There are also new zucchini varieties to be seen in the field.
In short, plenty to see and experience. “Connect your senses” on our demo field. We are happy to welcome you and to show you around and tell you about our wide range of varieties.
Event Details:
Dates: 24-25-26 September 2024, every day from 10.00-17.00
Location: Kanaalweg 16 Warmenhuizen, the Netherlands
More information: www.hazera.com/opendays
Hazera’s International Open Days: Showcasing our global portfolio to our partners & customers worldwide
Posted on Aug 26, 2024
Hazera’s International Open Days: Showcasing our global portfolio to our partners & customers worldwide
-Visit us & connect your senses-
Warmenhuizen, August 22nd – As Hazera, a leader in vegetable breeding and innovation, we are excited to announce our annual Open Days event. From Tuesday, September 24th to Thursday, September 26th. Growers, chain partners, and industry experts from around the world will converge at Hazera’s field in Warmenhuizen, The Netherlands
We are excited to grow together with you during our International Open Days. Connect your senses and experience our global range of varieties.
Hear our experts talk about our crops in the field and on display. Discover the latest techniques in mechanical planting and harvesting in our demonstrations.
What to Expect:
Open field varieties showcase: Visitors will have the unique opportunity to explore Hazera’s latest vegetable varieties. From all types of cabbages to leek, carrot, sweet corn and lettuce. In collaboration with HM.Clause and Vilmorin- Mikado. These varieties are meticulously developed to address challenges such as disease resistance, storage quality, yield, appearance, and taste. Our commitment to healthy and flavorful vegetables drives our continuous research and improvement efforts.
Innovative concepts: Hazera’s Open Days will unveil innovative vegetable concepts that prioritize taste, health, and ease of use. Notably, the extensive range of our ToBRFV tomato varieties and successful radish portfolio.
Fruited crops assortment: Inside the pavilion, we will showcase our tomato, cucumber and watermelon varieties. Visitors can explore the latest developments and innovations within these crops.
Guided tours and demonstrations: Our product managers will be offering you guided tours showing you our latest varieties and sharing with you the latest information & insights. There will also be planting and harvesting demonstrations on the demo field in collaboration with Verhoest & Agriplant.
Event Details:
Dates: 24-25-26 September 2024. From 10.00 – 17.00
Location: Kanaalweg 16 Warmenhuizen, the Netherlands More information: www.hazera.com/opendays
The International Open Days are organized in collaboration with HM.Clause & Vilmorin-Mikado.
UK team “faces the heat” and develops a Groundbreaking Selection Tool
Posted on May 24, 2024
It takes fire to refine gold, but what happens when you throw some onions into the mix?
Our UK team turned the challenge of late data on onion varieties into an innovative solution, enabling them to secure a significant market share in the onion industry. Discover what John Desoyza, our Market Development Manager, has to share about this successful “transformation” project.
“Good things can come from the pressure we face, and we faced quite a lot of it. Twelve years ago, frustration started to appear in our team. We did not know where we stood with our onions in the UK. We were producing results and advancement recommendations for the next generation of onion varieties in May and June, which was too late. Just like our trial data with the final judgements that were arriving too late to the colleagues. Even if we worked hard, our selections got dismissed.
We put our heads together and asked ourselves: what could we do? If there was a way to cause the onions to deteriorate more rapidly, we could get the storage result sooner, and that would mean that the result would have to be commercially relevant. So, we started to run a series of experiments to determine what the optimal conditions to achieve this goal were. We varied the variables of temperature, light, and later, relative humidity.
From these experiments, the Accelerated Onion Deterioration Store was born and subsequently refined. Today, we screen all our trial onions with this system, giving us thorough and commercially relevant storage results as early as early February or even sooner. We are now able to produce the data we need months before it would be expected and to look at key attributes of sprouting, rots, root re-growth and base plate movement. This work allowed us to identify Fasto, our most famous onion in the UK, and to confirm the performance of other key hybrids, such as Nico, Rondo, Redrover and Reflash.
Innovation driven by adversity and the invested expertise of our colleagues led to this breakthrough. Today, for the main yellow onion spring drilled segment, we have around a 30 % market share and good prospects to further penetrate this and the red onion market.”
Would you like to learn more about this project or our onion varieties? Do not hesitate to contact us.
Introducing ‘Tomatoes that Work for You’: transforming challenges into advantages
Posted on Mar 28, 2024
Hazera proudly presents ‘Tomatoes that Work for You’, a new umbrella concept encompassing a range of tomato varieties designed to address the key challenges faced through the entire chain.
Challenges such as a significant increase in production costs, labor shortage and sustainable agriculture. This innovative concept offers numerous qualities, including resistance to diseases, reduced labor, enhanced quality, extended shelf life, and minimized food waste.
Less labor, greater quality
Under the ‘Tomatoes that Work for You’ concept, growers experience a significant reduction in labor, as observed in Spain during 2020-2023.
“The Savings of manual labor can potentially be up to 30%, thanks to the low maintenance production processes and efficient harvesting of varieties such as Camelot, Pendragon and Windsor”, says Alejandro Szechtman, Tomato Portfolio Marketing Director at Hazera.
“These varieties ripen on the plant, offering not only benefits for efficient and fast picking, but also a harvest-flexibility of up to every 14 days on average.” With their outstanding uniformity and consistency, growers can achieve a higher yield potential whilst minimizing unmarketable fruits.
Moreover, the incorporation of ToBRFV IR resistance in varieties like Pendragon and Windsor ensures enhanced disease resistance, further contributing to consistent yield and fruit quality.
Maintaining commercial value
According to Alejandro, the advantages for retailers are equally compelling.
“Qualities like extensive shelf life, exceptional firmness, shiny skin and high brix levels allow these varieties to maintain commercial quality for a very long period post-harvest, significantly reducing food waste.”
The varieties also maintain uniform fruit size, shape and weight during the season and are being grown in many different markets. “This constant supply of quality products offers retailers a reliable solution to boost profitability.”
Exceptional Taste and Shelf life
“These varieties provide important benefits for the consumer as well”, Alejandro adds. “With an emphasis on tasty and crunchy tomatoes with extended shelf life, Camelot, Pendragon, and Windsor deliver a premium culinary experience and extended storage possibilities.
Whether used in salads, sauces, or simply enjoyed fresh, these tomatoes promise an exceptional taste experience full of flavor and freshness.”
In conclusion, ‘Tomatoes that Work for You’ epitomizes a win-win-win solution for growers, retailers, and consumers alike.
With its innovative approach, Hazera addresses industry challenges and delivers quality solutions worldwide.
For more information about ‘Tomatoes that work for you’ click here
An insight into Hazera’s successful exhibition at Agrotica 2024
Posted on Feb 20, 2024
From 1 to 4 February, Hazera presented at Agrotica in Thessaloniki, the largest agricultural event for the Greek and the Balkans markets. Over 150.000 people visited Agrotica, they were introduced by our team to our wide portfolio and our renewed brand identity. Petros Karkatselis, General Manager at Hazera Greece, looks back on a successful exhibition.
Tomato varieties stole the show.
“Many visitors came directly to us, because they were already familiar with and interested in Hazera products”, says Petros. “Growers were already exposed to our online communication about our varieties, and this was a great opportunity to experience and learn about them in real life.” According to Petros, the team received a lot of positive reactions. “The visitors were impressed by the display of our fruits and vegetables. Our tomatoes, and specifically the ToBRFV IR-resistant varieties: Thireos, Lollipop and Pendragon, where the main attraction as the virus is aa major concern for many growers in Greece. They were looking for ways to continue cultivating high-quality tomatoes despite the ToBRFV virus. With these resistant varieties, we can offer them a solution.”
“The tomato varieties Nissos, Iris and Bellamond impressed with qualities like high yield, great taste, and nice color. For Iris, the ability to grow in very hot conditions is an important advantage.” Petros mentions that the impressive quality of the tomatoes, combined with the excellent customer service provided by the Hazera team, have led to many planned visits of growers to Hazera’s tomato greenhouse in Crete. “In Crete, we display our complete tomato portfolio, including commercial ToBRFV IR-resistant varieties and trials for new tomato varieties. For those who’ve missed our tomatoes at Agrotica, you are welcome to visit us in our Demo greenhouse in Crete.”
A great team – of crops and people!
“Agrotica also offered us the opportunity to actively promote our wide portfolio”, Petros continues. “Next to tomatoes, our peppers, eggplants, cauliflowers, and lettuces were also received very well.
Our third objective was to familiarize existing and potential future customers with our renewed brand identity. All in all, this has been a very successful exhibition. Not only from a crop-perspective, but also from a people-perspective”, Petros says proudly. “Our team showed great spirit and expertise, From Product development and Marketing to sales. Together, we created a positive and fruitful environment for the visitors to learn about our products.”
Valuable lessons
For Petros, the interactions with the visiting growers were also vital to the success of this exhibition. “We connected with them and guided them to the best person who could help them with their questions, but also to find out what challenges they’re facing on a daily basis. Some of them only came for the ToBRFV-resistant varieties because of their challenge with the virus, for example. By learning from the first-hand information, they provide, we can further improve our portfolio and help them achieve their full potential in the ever-changing markets and growing circumstances.”
Cultivating the future: Hazera’s new High-tech tomato greenhouse
Posted on Feb 05, 2024
Hazera has recently acquired a new high-tech greenhouse next to our headquarters in Made, the Netherlands. According to Yossi Shapiro, Head of R&D, this acquisition marks a significant step in Hazera’s journey to establish a strong position in the high-tech greenhouse tomato industry. He gives insight into the acquisition process, goals in research and development, and what Hazera can offer to the high-tech tomato market.
“Our goal to establish ourselves as one of the leaders in the high-tech tomato market with our mid- to long-term plan, as there is strong competition there”, Yossi says. “This goal was the primary motivation to invest in a state-of-the-art active tomato greenhouse, as you need the best facilities to compete with the best.” Hazera is empowering its tomato portfolio worldwide through the new high-tech tomato project with the strong support of Limagrain’s vegetable seed division. As the largest company in the vegetable seed industry, Limagrain Group has significantly invested in this project.
Backyard transformation
Yossi says multiple options were considered, such as renovating existing facilities or building a greenhouse from scratch. “But the answer was right in our own backyard: to buy an industry-grade, commercial greenhouse operation, that we can readily transform into a research facility with the help of our experts.” André van Zeijl, the previous owner of the greenhouse, has been an independent grower for over 25 years.
He has a lot of experience and will support the transition to a research facility.
With advanced technology and a focus on producing clean seeds through good seed and plant practices (GSPP), Hazera aims to elevate its research capabilities. Another important advantage of acquiring an existing facility, is sustainability. Re-purposing the greenhouse in Made, rather than building a new one, suits Hazera’s strategy of caring for the planet that helps us grow extraordinary seeds. We take our responsibility for the environment very seriously. Hazera has a lot of know-how and experience in breeding high-quality varieties that can be grown with reduced input. It’s great to see that a company like Hazera has such a strong focus on sustainability.
Experts in resistance, yield and taste
When talking about Hazera’s position in the high-tech tomato market, Yossi notes that “We also bring something very valuable to the table: our expertise in developing tomato varieties with strong resistance to diseases, particularly in response to ToBRFV, combined with excellent yield and taste. This can really equip growers to manage their biggest challenges. A great example of this is Pendragon, one of the ToBRFV-resistant varieties that we’ll be growing in the greenhouse. In addition, this greenhouse provides us with the opportunity to further improve yield, fruit quality, and commercial appeal of those varieties, and to implement the innovative techniques and technologies which will increase our efficiency, enhance the R&D outcomes, and accelerate time to market.”
“The Netherlands is the birthplace and center of the global high-tech tomato industry, so it is a natural location for us to launch this program”, Yossi continues. “But the goal of all our efforts is to develop hybrid high-tech tomato varieties to meet the evolving needs of our grower customers, wherever they may be, so they can serve the needs of their customers. When consumers are enjoying tasty and healthfully tomatoes grown from our seeds, we can say that we’ve been successful in our mission.”
A vision for tomorrow
“The heightened level of control and optimization in the high-tech greenhouse environment ensures that we can replicate production conditions under which we want to evaluate the varieties we are developing and advancing. That way, we aim to bring innovation and improvement to high-tech tomato markets around the world.”
“By combining our new active greenhouse research facility in Made, the expertise we have in developing leading tomato varieties, and our experience in customer engagement, we expect to play an important role in the high-tech tomato industry”, Yossi concludes. “There’s an exciting opportunity to grow this part of our business, and it starts with R&D.
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Staay Food Group and Hazera Seeds present new watermelon
Exceed mini watermelon nominated for Fruit Logistica Innovation Award 2024
The Exceed mini watermelon has been nominated for the 2024 Fruit Logistica Innovation Award, marking a proud moment in the long-standing partnership between Staay Food Group and Hazera. The winner will be announced at Fruit Logistica in Berlin (7-9 February), where Staay will be present to premier the Exceed watermelon.
Mark Loojenga, Marketing Manager at Staay Food Group, and Michal Taraska, Global Value Chain Lead at Hazera, discuss the product, the partnership and what to expect at the Food Logistica.
Exceeding expectations
According to Mark and Michal, the Exceed watermelon has earned its nomination through a unique combination of qualities that benefits growers, retailers and consumers. “The Exceed watermelon is a durable and eco-friendly variety, with strong resistance to diseases like powdery mildew and has plants that provide multiple harvests. Not only does this make life easier for the grower, but it also requires less fungicides and significantly less water than the production of traditional watermelons”, Mark says. Michal adds that this also helps reduce food waste: “Exceed makes it possible to reduce losses in production and during transport.”
“And due to the variety’s extended shelf-life of over 5-10 days longer than traditional watermelons, this variety displays a long-lasting freshness in both supermarkets and consumer’s homes”, he continues. With its compact, uniform size the Exceed watermelon answers a strongly growing call in the (Northern) European and American markets for smaller watermelons. “The size is suitable for ever smaller households and easy to keep in the fridge. And they’re seedless, which is both a major convenience for consumers and a waste-saver.” Mark adds. “But it’s the taste and color they come back for.” Michal: “The Exceed mini watermelon has a really sweet and crispy taste, as is shown by its above average Brix level.”
Team effort
The Exceed mini watermelon is the latest success in a long-standing collaboration between Staay Food Group and Hazera. “Staay is a strong and dynamic partner, which is key for successfully introducing a new product to the market”, Michal says. He underlines the importance of such a partnership for Hazera. “We can provide the best Formula One car, but we still need a top-class driver to win the race. In Staay Food Group, we’ve found that driver.”
An analogy Mark wholeheartedly agrees with. “Hazera provides top-quality seeds that are perfectly suited for our fields in Costa Rica. And with this newly developed variety, we perfectly reflect the demands of the market; we’re able to grow the right products. The Exceed mini watermelon is another step in our close and fruitful cooperation.”
Premier release at Fruit Logistica Berlin
The premier release of the Exceed mini watermelon for the European market will take place at Fruit Logistica, where Staay Food Group will be present at stand B45 in hall 3.2. “Here, we will also display a selection of other products we grow and offer ourselves,” Mark elaborates. “For the first time we can show our three club varieties of colored pears together: The Red Conference, Early Desire and Dazzling Gold are all exclusively available through Staay Food Group. Secondly, we show our hydroponic lettuces, and finally our wide range of available vine tomatoes. In addition, we will bring special attention to our branch in Venlo, which focusses on the food service industry. This location provides a quite unique service for the German market, where customers can buy products per box instead of per pallet and can combine different products on one pallet. This is ideal for restaurants, who usually don’t need entire pallets of one product.”
The prize-giving ceremony for the innovation award will take place on 9 February 2024, 2.30 p.m. at the FLIA Technology special exhibition area between Halls 1.1 and 2.1. Mark and Michal agree this nomination “shows we are on the right track in our team effort to successfully align the development, cultivation, sales and marketing of excellent and innovative products.”
Staay Food Group is an international cultivation, sales and marketing organization in fresh fruit and vegetables with a global network; The World is our Garden. Staay Food Group is a family business, founded in 1946. It delivers tailor-made products to customers in retail, wholesale, foodservice and processing.
HAZERA: Growing Together
Hazera’s headquarters are situated in Israel and The Netherlands, with subsidiaries in twelve countries and an extensive distribution network providing services in over 100 additional markets. This worldwide presence enables us to be close to our customers.
Hazera is part of the Limagrain Group, an international agri-business based in France. Being a farmers’ cooperative, the Limagrain Group understands the needs of its customers and has grown to become the largest seed company in Europe, specialising in vegetables, field crops and cereal products. Limagrain’s vegetable seed division is the second largest company in the industry.
In 2022, plant-based eating is here to stay. According to Bloomberg Group, global retail sales of plant-based foods are on track to reach $160 billion by 2030, up from $29 billion in 2020. Meanwhile, research by The NPD Group has found that 19% of consumers are looking to add more plant-based foods to their diet.
However, the plant-based market is more fragmented and complex than it often appears – and it’s evolving month by month. We look at some of the current trends shaping the market and what they mean for growers.
1. Flexitarianism flexes its muscles
The biggest sources of demand for plant-based products aren’t vegetarians or vegans, but rather people choosing to eat less meat. According to one study, 89% of plant-based users don’t consider themselves vegan or vegetarian. This is good news for crop farmers: “flexitarians” who still consume animal proteins may be less hungry for so-called “meat alternatives”, and more likely to stick to traditional plant-based foods such as vegetables, grains and pulses.
2. When two trends converge
Clean/organic eating and plant-based consumption were once considered separate movements, but we’re now seeing signs of convergence. In other words, health-conscious consumers seem to be moving away from more complex, processed plant-based products toward simpler, healthier alternatives. Rather than fake-meat burgers, think more cauliflower steak. There’s data to support this, with global avoidance of plant-based protein estimated to have doubled between 2019 and 2021, according to Hartman’s ‘Health + Wellness’ report.
3. Sustainability matters
And it’s not just about health. Growing environmental awareness at consumer level is also driving the trend toward more wholesome local produce. Going forward, Western markets may see increased demand for “low-carbon” vegetable categories (like brassicas, onions and leeks) in place of mostly imported crops such as avocados and soybeans.
4. Innovation, innovation, innovation
Though simple is often best, there’s no shortage of innovation in the plant-based sector. A particularly interesting trend is that of “hybrid foods” – burgers and nuggets, for instance, that include a blend of meat and vegetable products. This may also favor growers, as hybrid foods open up new paths to increased vegetable consumption.
As you can see, things change quickly in the plant-based world. At Hazera, we keep our finger on the pulse and provide solutions to help our customers navigate today’s fast-evolving consumer landscape. Contact us today to see how we can support your business.
The food industry isn’t short of challenges right now. Growers face rising fertilizer prices and the effects of climate change, while food providers are dealing with increased transportation costs and low consumer sentiment.
Thankfully, innovators have developed a range of solutions to combat these difficulties and bring agriculture into the 21st century. These four are firmly on our radar …
The annual International Open Days in September are a long and well-known tradition. For many years we have presenting our full product range to international customers in the famous week 39. But times are changing. That’s why we decided to have a more focused scope on our Brassica portfolio this year. So the International Open Days will become the International Brassica Days, which can be visited upon appointment.
Local conditions and customers’ needs vary. The new approach this year to have a more focussed scope will help us to even better understand your needs and wishes. It will give us the opportunity to have more in-depth talks with you on our Brassica portfolio, the challenges you encounter, to give more technical advice for your area and to share the latest market trends and insights.
Brassica in the spotlight
The Brassica Days will take place from 27th until 29th of September in our breeding station in Warmenhuizen, The Netherlands and can be visited upon appointment. The event will focus on Western and Eastern Europe, Balkans and USA. During this event we will present our varieties on our demo field and visit our trial fields. We will talk about challenges in labour and present mechanical harvest solutions. The preparations for this event are in full swing. We are happy to keep you posted on the exact details of the program!
New Deputy CEO of Hazera: “It is like a Marathon run, and we want to finish first!”
Posted on Aug 09, 2022
August 2022
Since 19th May 2022, Ofer Peleg has been the new Deputy CEO of Hazera. He leads Sales, Supply Chain, IT and Production. Ofer says: “We have great DNA in Hazera, but also opportunities and potential to become a well-integrated company and realise solid and robust processes”.
Ofer, fifty years old, lives near Tel Aviv, with his wife and three children, aged 21, 18 and 13. He used to work for several leading companies in multicultural and dynamic environments. “I started as an Industrial Engineer in the Pharmaceutical Industry where I stayed for about twenty years. At Teva Pharmaceuticals, the Israeli global generic leader, I served in various positions in both R&D and Operations, where my last role was to manage three large facilities in Europe. For that role, I moved with my family to Amsterdam for two years. After that I became Vice-President of the Global supply chain at Sun Pharmaceuticals, a global Indian Pharmaceutical company. In the last four years I was the vice-president of the Global supply chain at Netafim, a global leader in precision irrigation. At Netafim, I focused on the same customers and ambition as Hazera; helping farmers to get the best out of their crops for both quantity and quality.”
Go the extra mile “I was given a very warm welcome, both at Hazera and Limagrain. There is a strong sense of partnership and the people I have met enjoy their profession and are very enthusiastic, willing to go above and beyond to serve our customers. They know that by doing so, they are making the world a better place. Shortly after I started at Hazera, I was lucky to meet many of my colleagues at the annual Limagrain conference in Prague.
Marathon run
“I have started to learn that there is a huge know-how and great professionalism here”, says Ofer, “but our competitors are not waiting for us, and we have to be agile, flexible and focused on quality. We can’t stop, not even for a minute; we are running a marathon and we want to finish first. There is also an opportunity for becoming a well-integrated company and realising solid and robust processes.”
Way of working
“We produce seeds all over the world. How can we do this as efficiently as possible? What is our optimal footprint? How do we optimize our inventory? How can we leverage our capabilities? In my former positions I have helped answering similar kinds of questions. I’m looking forward to sharing my experience and contributing to Hazera.”
Hazera announces varieties with intermediate resistance (IR) to Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) in pipeline
Hazera is proud to announce the launch of our ToBRFV intermediate resistant varieties- the optimal balance between protection and performance– providing the grower an effective tool to face the highly infectious virus, infecting tomato plants, fruit and affecting growers worldwide. The Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus poses a constant threat to growers worldwide, significantly reducing yields, affecting the quality of fruit, and systematically infecting other plants, as it is a very transmittable virus that can infect through soil, tools, water, and people’s contact.
Since ToBRFV hit, Hazera’s R&D team has been working tirelessly to find varieties capable of giving an effective level of ToBRFV resistance without compromising the yield and fruit quality we’ve invested years to perfect. Over the course of several years, Hazera researchers and agronomists invested endless resources to find solutions to address our growers’ needs worldwide. Moreover, according to Alejandro Szechtman, Hazera’s Portfolio Marketing Director, “These efforts included in-depth trials in many locations, under different conditions in a global scale, to confirm that we are able to provide the optimal solutions, with the right balance between performance and ToBRFV protection”.
Hazera is proud to announce a wide ToBRFV resistant variety pipeline worldwide, with which we will be able to tailor-make the optimal solution per market requirement, beginning with Italy, Greece, Spain, Mexico, Turkey, Israel etc’.
Hazera, through Limagrain’s upstream research, contributed to a network of internal and external collaborative discovery projects on ToBRFV using different approaches. This resulted in Limagrain being the first company to file a patent on ToBRFV resistance in tomato in 2017. While the first generation of tomato hybrids resistant to ToBRFV is being commercialized, Limagrain discovery programs continue to work intensively to find resistances against potential emergent more aggressive forms of this devastating virus.
“Our R&D efforts haven’t ended, we’re still investing to achieve higher resistance, and expand our portfolio to the benefit of growers worldwide,” said Szechtman.
Hazera is a global leader in the seed industry. Hazera has headquarters in both the Netherlands and Israel. We operate subsidiaries in 11 countries, together with a distribution network serving over 130 markets. Our partners operate in all kinds of climates, and under diverse growing conditions and market requirements. For over a century, our top priority has been walking alongside them, developing an enormous variety of seeds and providing comprehensive support every step of the way. Hazera’s team of experts works directly with growers to evaluate their needs, assist during variety selection and provide guidance and support throughout the crop cycle.
Hazera is part of the Limagrain Group, an international agri-business based in France. Being a farmers’ cooperative, the Limagrain Group understands the needs of its customers and has grown to become the largest seed company in Europe, specialising in vegetables, field crops and cereal products. Limagrain’s vegetable seed division is the second largest company in the industry.
Hazera’s Official Training Video: Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV)
Posted on Aug 30, 2021
We are happy to present Hazera’s training video and sanitation guide for dealing with the new ToBRFV virus.
The purpose of this video is to assist growers and farmers to gain a better understanding of the ToBRFV virus, and to share some practical advice and active measures for eradicating the growth of this virus through the use of stringent hygiene and highly effective sanitation. (more…)
Lettuce Tip Burn Relation to Environmental Influences
Posted on Aug 30, 2021
At the Hazera open day for lettuce growers held on the Berurim farm in mid-December 2015, Hazera Lettuce Breeder, Amos Nir, gave a talk on the causes of Lettuce Tip Burn and offered some solutions for both field and hydroponic varieties. (more…)
