Endless tomato creativity

Breeding is a creative act that, inspired by the richness of nature, aims at unveiling its unexpressed potential. It could change the tomato market trying new unexplored paths.

It doesn't happen everyday that you stumble into something unusual but, in Italy, there are already products with unique characteristics. FreshPlaza saw them during a visit to United Genetics Italia (Unigenseedsitaly.com).

United Genetics Italia was established in 1994 by Remo Ludergnani and Mario Martinelli and has since become a leading player on the domestic and international market, especially when it comes to industry and fresh tomatoes.

The latter was founded in Japan in 1899 and has over 35 offices all over the world from the US to Australia. In 2017, the turnover exceeded $2 billion. It's the leading Japanese company of processed products.

The acquisition of United Genetics was strategic to create important collaborations. The purpose is to complete the chain, from seeds to finished products.

Considerable investments are being carried out in Italy with the upgrading of the Parma facility and the development of the research centre in Fondi. In addition, a research centre for peppers has been opened in Almeria, Spain.

The company stresses that quality comes before business. The success of its products is the natural consequence of its hard work, made possible thanks to Western and Asian genetic banks.

Together with Andrea Campus, Sales and P.D. Manager of United Genetics Italia, FreshPlaza visited the experimental greenhouses where geneticists express all their creativity: tomatoes of all shapes and sizes, from bright yellow, orange and purplish red to black. There are 606 different hybrids. 

A series of them is focused on high anthocyan levels, leading to crowns that brown during summer instead of yellowing (ribbed and beefsteak tomatoes in particular).

In addition to being appealing, fruits are firm and juicy.

Brown types have similar characteristics: in addition to being appealing and nice to eat, they are highly productive, not subject to cracking or debunching.

There is also a range with high lycopene content, which is usually a characteristic reserved to industry tomatoes as it makes the flesh particularly red. 

Crossbreeds with traditional and wild tomatoes produced innovative hybrids in terms of colour and flavour, while selecting the type of sugar and their ratio (saccharine and fructose in relation to glucose) creates unique aromas.

But there's more: on top of traditional tomatoes, there are those with a so-called "sticky peel", i.e. not a real peel that makes tomatoes particularly shiny and almost jelly-like.

A clear peel makes red tomatoes pinkish instead and also lightens yellow, orange and brown ones. "Nonetheless, the original flavour of Momotaro tomatoes and its unique organoleptic qualities remain unchanged."

These products will truly change the sector. They are not niche specialities and have yield, efficiency and resistance characteristics comparable to the most popular fresh tomatoes available today.

In a world where preference and expectations are changing, United Genetics Italia-Kagome Group believes in the collaboration between research, innovation and final consumers.

United Genetics Italia S.p.A
Strada Traversante Ravadese, 60/A
43122 PARMA
Email: unigenit@unitedgenetics-italy.com
tel. +39 0521 642032 / 642059 r.a.
fax +39 0521 642498
 
Mario Martinelli
General Manager
Email: Mario.Martinelli@unitedgenetics-italy.com
Mobile: +393356152121
 
Andrea Campus
Sales and Product Development Manager
Email: andrea.campus@unitedgenetics-italy.com
Mobile: +393498805313
 
Nord Italia
Dr. Alberto Baratta – Area Manager
Email: alberto.baratta@unitedgenetics-italy.com
Cell. +39 335 7739233
 
Centro Italia/ Sardegna
Dr. Nicola Di Ienno – Area Manager
Email: nicola.diienno@unitedgenetics-italy.com
Cell. +39 335 1870919
 
Sud Italia
Dr. Antonio De Rosa – Area Manager
Email: antonio.derosa@unitedgenetics-italy.com
Cell. +39 366 6845751