Yuksel Seeds reported strong interest in its heirloom tomatoes, snack cucumbers and other premium items at Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong this month
Seed company Yuksel Seeds said it had gained a “clear indication of the growing importance of premium quality and flavour in the Chinese market” following its first appearance at this month’s Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong.
Interest from visitors had exceeded expectations, it said. “Alongside Chinese visitors, a significant number of professionals came from Southeast Asian markets such as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and India,” the company revealed.
“The interest in heirlooms, Kapia and Dulce Italiano peppers and snack cucumbers was particularly encouraging,” reported Ismail Gülsoy, area sales manager Asia Pacific at Yuksel Seeds.
“Brix is becoming an increasingly important criterion when evaluating premium products,” he said, “with opportunities extending beyond cherry tomatoes to other categories such as peppers and cucumbers.”
The strong interest in differentiated products reinforces Yuksel Seeds’ strategy of developing varieties that combine agronomic performance with quality, flavour and consumer appeal, the company said.
“The company is increasingly looking at opportunities further along the value chain,” it revealed, “working with growers, distributors, marketers, retailers and foodservice partners to better understand changing consumption patterns.”
Nico van Vliet, downstream integration lead at Yuksel Seeds, commented: “Meeting retailers and marketers alongside growers was particularly valuable for us. It allows us to connect what we are developing in breeding with what consumers ultimately want to see and experience. Premium quality only creates value when the product delivers something that consumers appreciate and want to buy again.”
