This year’s Biofach organic trade fair revolved around opportunities for the organic sector, despite concerns about inflation and rising costs. Besides the exhibition, the international event – which was held in Germany in mid-February – featured a large number of interesting presentations. One conclusion is that while the production and consumption of organic vegetables varies considerably around the world, there are also some similarities between markets. Here, three specialists from Rijk Zwaan share their key takeaways from the event.

“Tafury RZ enables us to offer our customers a tasty and visually appealing beef tomato as a way of stimulating the market for medium-sized and large tomatoes,” says Christopher Juranek from REWE Germany. The food retail chain has been carrying this Rijk Zwaan tomato under its REWE Bio label since winter 2021/2022. It is supplied by Biosabor, an organic production company based in Spain. 

7 February 2023 – Despite high inflation dampening sales of organic products, the mood at the organic trade fair BioBeurs, which took place in the Netherlands on 18 and 19 January, was buoyed by two pieces of good news: €26 million worth of funding for the sector from the Dutch government, and vegetable processor HAK’s full transition to organic produce. Rijk Zwaan’s new organic Marmande tomato Tafury RZ was particularly popular with visitors to the event.

Ekomenu won the Future Award for best communication of the year with its ‘Discover your Foodprint’ receipts showing personalised Vegetable, Water, CO2 and Vita scores. CEO Jack Stroeken is understandably proud of this achievement and, despite the recession, he sees a bright future for the provider of organic meal boxes in the Netherlands and Belgium. “We are a good fit with the sustainability, health and online trends. And our short supply chains enable us to keep price increases to a minimum.”

The Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus or ToBRFV has been causing major economic losses in tomato cultivation worldwide. Rijk Zwaan’s team of researchers found new, unique genetics resulting in a high resistance level to ToBRFV.

Rijk Zwaan offers growers and other fresh chain partners peace of mind in today’s challenging times. During the annual Pfälzer Feldtag in Schifferstadt on 8 September, Rijk Zwaan Germany presented a broad range of varieties, from lettuces to brassicas. “The organic sector is looking for less risky crops – in growing but also in promotion and price standability,” says David Pape, Account Manager Open Field Crops.