Key highlights include celery and parsnip, with additional emphasis on leek, kale and wild rocket
Independent seed company Tozer is opening its trial field this week at the Seed Meets Technology event in The Netherlands. From 23-25 September, visitors from across the industry will be able to discover more than a hundred innovative vegetable varieties on Tozer’s 1,300m² plot.
A leader in celery, Tozer said it is showcasing “outstanding” new varieties of this crop. “Mendel stands out as a versatile dual-purpose variety with dark green leaves, a high petiole count, uniform knuckles and strong race 2 fusarium resistance. Curie, another dual-purpose option, is fast-maturing with similar dark green leaves and high petiole numbers, ideal for multiple market needs,” the company said.
In parsnips, meanwhile, Tozer offers TZ 7508, notable for its uniform shape, colour and suitability for pre-packing, and TZ 5152, offering consistent uniformity and canker tolerance for main to late season production.
“Leek and brassicas complement the field. TZ 8380, a mid-early to main season leek with excellent shank quality, and TZ 8382, a main season leek combining good thrip tolerance with leaf and shank characteristics suitable for multiple markets, are both performing exceptionally well in field trials across Europe,” Tozer said.
In wild rocket the focus of breeding new varieties is on bolting, mildew tolerance and the serration of the leaves, which can be experienced on the field with a range of commercial varieties and new breeding material.
Other new offerings include coriander varieties such as Flamenco and Rumba. “With Flamenco not only suited for winter production in warmer climates but also popular in northern Europe because of its dark-green shinny leaves, and Rumba performing well in cooler summer conditions, there something to fit every region,” the company said.
Finally, Tozer will display a wide range of pumpkin varieties of particular interest are the Wicked and Zombie varieties, the only UK bred pumpkins available.
“We look forward to welcoming visitors and sharing our latest innovations,” said Marcel Bloemendaal, sales director Northern Europe. “This year, we are particularly excited about the developments in celery, leek and kale which continue to meet the demands of modern markets.”
Managing director Steve Winterbottom commented: “Our trials offer growers and industry professionals a unique opportunity to experience the quality, uniformity and versatility of our varieties first-hand. More importantly, they’re a great moment to engage into productive conversations with them”.
To that purpose, a “Happy Hour” has been planned for visitors on 23 and 24 September from 4pm to 5pm, where visitors can network and taste Tozer’s celery gin and tonic.
All growers and professionals wishing to attend Tozer’s Dutch Field Trials 2025 can book their appointments here: https://www.tozerseeds.com/dutch-field-trials/
