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The HTL1907547 variety’s slightly flatter shape and deepred colour gives it a culinary appearance.
More and more types of culinary tomatoes being cultivated In Europe, shoppers have had their choice of tomatoes for years. ‘Standard’ round red tomatoes are available in large numbers, but supermarket chains are increasingly carrying special premium lines too. They want to use these tomatoes - with that bit of extra appeal - to distinguish themselves. It is up to breeding companies like Axia Vegetable Seeds to develop these varieties. Varieties that do not so much broaden the existing range but deepen it. With its Flaxorax line, this Dutch breeding company focuses on the taste experience. This season, this line has two new varieties, which were displayed in early April at Axia’s stand, brimming with all kinds of tomatoes, at Fruit Logistica. The line now carries a total of six varieties.
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ment,” he points out. Axia offers the variety for both lit and unlit cultivation. William sees opportunities with, among others, German supermarkets. “People there are willing to pay extra for good-tasting tomatoes in this segment.”
The HTL1907548, the larger 130g truss variety, is also unusual. It has a flattened, round shape, and once sliced open, its deep red coloured flesh and green-tinged gel are evident. The reference varieties in this market segment are often rounder, says William. “You find these packaged in stores. This variety’s unique fruit shape makes it distinctive - a tomato with just a little more identity and character.”
hese two new varieties are aimed at Initiator at Axia, picks up one of the HTL the larger size market - both are TOVs, 1907547, 110g tomatoes. with one weighing in at an average of 110g LARGER WITH MORE EXCLUSIVE (medium-large), the other at roughly 130g. “See, it’s slightly flatter and has a dark red APPEARANCE Like all the other Flaxorax tomatoes, both colour, which makes it appear culinary. It is crucial, however, that the culihave a deep red internal colour with dark This tomato thus looks and feels like a nary-appearing varieties are easy to grow. red flesh. But it is easy to see they are dif- typically premium line of retail tomatoes. “Besides having a good shape and flavour, ferent, even from the outside. At the tra- In supermarkets, you often find medium- productivity also has to be high. In terms de show, William van der Riet, Business to-large vine tomatoes in the flavour seg- of kilograms, a premium line’s produc-
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AGF Primeur • Gewächshausgemüse • 2022
