By working in partnership with Bergman Seeds, growers gain early access to the newest resistant varieties. This is of strategic importance to help them meet retailers’ needs and add value for consumers. One example is Anizalla BS, the new ToBRFV-resistant mini-plum truss variety that is already being grown commercially for sale in Germany and the UK. “We care about bringing varieties to the retail market that add value for consumers in terms of flavour and visual appeal,” says Maarten van der Leeden, Client Manager Sales at Bergman Seeds in the Netherlands.
Combining resistance with flavour
“The demand for resistant varieties is very high from professional growers, of course, but they don’t want to comprise on taste or production performance,” states Maarten. “That’s why our breeders have developed a very good range of tomato varieties that not only have Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) resistance, but also have a great flavour. All these varieties are suitable for both lit and unlit crops in northern Europe, supporting year-round availability.”
Supporting continuity of product availability
The newest addition to the company’s range of resistant tomato varieties is Anizalla BS, which is already being grown commercially on a relatively large scale for sale in Germany and the UK. “The blocky-shaped mini plum truss tomato category is an important segment for retailers in Germany and the UK,” explains Maarten. “We care about supporting growers’ success by ensuring the continuity of product availability, and ToBRFV resistance based on Rugose Defense™ enables us to achieve that. By introducing this variety, we’re helping them meet the needs of their existing retail customers and chain partners in those regions.”
Adding value for consumers
“By working in partnership with Bergman Seeds, growers gain early access to our newest resistant varieties. This is of strategic importance for them. But we also care about bringing varieties to the retail market that add value for consumers in terms of flavour and visual appeal,” he continues. Anizalla BS is a good example of this, according to Florian Prins, Chain Manager at Harvest House, a growers’ cooperative that has an important position in cultivating and distributing crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers and sweet peppers in Europe: “We measure the brix of all our tomato varieties on a daily basis,” he comments. “When it comes to taste, Anizalla BS is one of the best performing varieties we grow. In fact, its brix value occasionally even exceeds 10!”
New introductions at Fruit Logistica
“We will be introducing Anizalla BS plus several other new flavoursome ToBRFV-resistant varieties at this year’s Fruit Logistica in Berlin,” states Maarten. “Other newcomers are several mini cherry truss tomatoes that are both delicious and very attractive, making them ideal for premium positioning, like Necluda BS, as well as our new cocktail truss tomato Sandroso BS.”
Expanding range of flavoursome ToBRFV-resistant varieties
“Meanwhile, Mondicia BS is a tasty and resistant variety for the midsized segment that is also grown organically. This new variety combines appealing consumer characteristics with an excellent shelf life and – for this fruit size – an excellent taste. These new additions have significantly expanded our existing range, which also includes Prospano BS in the premium fine truss tomato category,” concludes Maarten.
At Bergman Seeds, we aim to create a sustainable, positive impact for the world’s food supply by caring for innovation, caring for our partners, and caring for your growth. Visit our team in Hall 1.2, D-13 at Fruit Logistica 2025 to explore how our commitment to care can help you thrive in today’s ever-evolving market. You can also arrange a guided tour in the Retail Centre in Berlin – our company’s very own retail experience facility.
