Tomato cultivation is undergoing significant changes on a global scale. Consumers are discovering tomatoes with various shapes, flavors, and colors while experimenting with new uses. Consumers demanding recognizable and high-quality products year-round expect constant innovation in this field. In this context, tomato growers are reviewing their strategies and cultivation methods, ultimately providing more added value to the industry.

Over the last 25 years, there have been significant changes in fresh tomato varieties. In the past, specific types like beef tomatoes, single round tomatoes, and cherry tomatoes dominated the market. However, today, the variety has greatly expanded, including cocktail tomatoes, plum tomatoes, cluster tomatoes, and snack tomatoes in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

"Consumers have discovered this vast variety of tomatoes and are experimenting with new ways of use and preparation," says Crop Breeding Manager Martijn van Stee, adding, "This increases consumption while raising expectations." This has led growers to reevaluate their strategies and cultivation methods. Investments have focused on growth, geographic distribution, and lighting systems, allowing companies to deliver consistent and high-quality products year-round to customers.

The effects of these changes can also be seen in North America. Argeto Sales Manager Freek Knol states, "In recent years, our tomato portfolio has significantly expanded and strengthened. Tomato Maxeza offers a competitive variety in the large slicing segment. In addition to its high flavor and color ratings, it performs comparably in terms of physical yield. Many growers have tried Maxeza and welcomed it. However, the market is competitive, and obtaining a higher price for higher quality is not easy. Despite this, I believe Maxeza will gain recognition," he adds.

Various types of tomatoes sold together also form a growing market segment. Especially "mixed packs," containing high-quality tomatoes of different types and colors, attract consumer interest. "Our growers have developed tomato series that can be grown in various colors, allowing us to offer consumers different types in these series."

With these transformations, tomato cultivation is also evolving in different regions worldwide. Russia, in particular, is making significant investments in ultra-modern greenhouses to reduce its dependency on imports. Enza Zaden Export (Eastern Europe) Product Manager Mike Lemmen states, "The Russian government is making significant investments in large-scale greenhouse projects to boost local production. Thanks to these projects, we