‘Innovating for sustainability’ is Rijk Zwaan’s theme at this year’s Fruit Logistica, which will take place from 6-8 February in Berlin. Innovations inspire consumers to eat vegetables more often throughout the day, so this is one way in which the vegetable breeding company is contributing to a sustainable and healthy future. Which novelties lie in store for visitors to the trade show? Read on for a sneak preview of new vegetable varieties in surprising shapes, sizes and colours.
First and foremost, Rijk Zwaan is presenting Snack Lettuce. Thanks to its firmness and unique shape, this lettuce is ideal as an ‘edible spoon’ for hot and cold snacks, thus helping to avoid waste. At the Fruit Attraction event in October 2018 this lettuce won the Accelera Fresh Produce Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award. For examples of uses for Snack Lettuce, see this YouTube video:
Mini pointed cabbage
The vegetable breeding company is also introducing a new concept called cabbisi: a mini pointed cabbage for use in salads which reduces food waste thanks to its small size. It has a mild taste, is crispy and sweet, contains vitamins and healthy glucosinolates and works perfectly in combination with mini cos lettuce, for example. Moreover, Rijk Zwaan offers marketing support in terms of appealing packaging ideas (www.rijkzwaan.com/solutions/cabbisi).
Colourful newcomers
A few innovations are all about the colour. The Sweet Palermo sweet pointed pepper has been popular among retailers in Europe for years thanks to its sweet taste, versatility and convenience. In addition to the red and yellow versions, Rijk Zwaan is now presenting an orange variety and a chocolate-brown variety, both with the same consistently high quality, opening up opportunities for new blends (see www.sweetpalermo.com).
Meanwhile Violet & Luca are kohlrabi in two different colours that form a striking duo in supermarket displays. And the intense colour – in this case dark green – is an essential benefit of Greentense, the pole slicing bean that is not only extra sweet but also less stringy.
Variety of shapes
Furthermore, Rijk Zwaan is focusing on Sparkle RZ, a rocket variety from the Rocketeerz product line. This popular salad ingredient combines the shape of spinach with the flavour of rocket. Another variety that will certainly attract attention at the event is the seedless prickly cucumber introduced as wok cucumber. As the name suggests, this Asian cucumber is ideal for stir-frying in the wok thanks to its small seed cavity and firm texture.
See and try
If you are interested to learn how these and other innovations are helping Rijk Zwaan to achieve its sustainability objectives, or if you would like to hear more about how these Rijk Zwaan novelties are linked to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), you are welcome to visit the company at Fruit Logistica in Hall 1.2, Stand D-04 to exchange thoughts and ideas. This year, it is once again possible to arrange an appointment to visit the Rijk Zwaan Retail Center in the heart of Berlin too, where you can see and try all these tasty innovations for yourself.
For more information:
Rijk Zwaan
info@rijkzwaan.com
www.rijkzwaan.com