Tokita Seed's new Sungreen tomato has been selected as one of this year's nominees for the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award. This is a green cherry tomato with a sweet and pleasant taste.The most challenging issue in developing the Sungreen tomato was the scepticism about the unusual green colour of the cherry tomato which is usual associated with unripe fruits. Taste and harvesting time were also difficult aspects to face.
Thanks to the sweetness of the variety, taste became an issue which was easy to overcome. While recognizing the harvesting stage is certainly more tricky, this can be faced through trials and our support.
With its new innovations Tokita focuses on the niche segment which offers the possibility for growers or fresh distributors to promote products in a market with a lower competition and consequently gain higher margins.
Breeding and market research are linked in creating innovations, for this reason it takes a lot of effort (time, economical resources and professionalism) before a company can release new products. The average time frame is 5-6 years.
Tokita had already tested the market before presenting Sungreen to FLIA 2012, and the response was positive: "a great interest came from those countries open to innovations. Of course very important feedback will come from this edition of Fruit Logistca because it will be officially presented to the market", Dr Gregorio Padula, from Tokita explains. The variety has been tested or is under trial in Japan, UK, Italy, France, Spain, USA, Holland.
At the moment for the new tomato varieties, Tokita is focused the European, Japanese and American market, but the intention is to also develop these worldwide.
Tokita will of course also be presenting the well known heart-shaped Tomatoberry.
The company philosophy is: “breeding innovation and not breeding copies!”. This is strongly inspired by president Mr Tokita.
For more information:
Dr. Gregorio Padula
TOKITA SEMENTI ITALIA Srl
1
81, C.so Garibaldi 47100 Forlì, Italië
Tel.: +39 543 756143
Fax: +39 543 031496
Mobile: +39 333 1455111
E-mail: [email protected]
www.tokitasementi.it