First reports of Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) in Australia have been made. A highly infectious plant virus, ToBRFV has impacted tomato production and distribution globally.

On 1 July, the European committee of the International Bremia Evaluation Board (IBEB-EU) published the denomination of a widely occurring new race of downy mildew in lettuce: Bl:41EU.

Rijk Zwaan, an international fruit and vegetable breeding company, is celebrating its first centenary. Since its foundation in 1924, Rijk Zwaan has grown into a global player, active in more than 100 countries. The centenary celebrations kicked off on 1 July 2024, 100 years to the day from when the company was originally founded.

Collaborating with Queensland growers to develop year-round, tailored variety programs is a key focus for Rijk Zwaan during this year’s Lockyer Valley Growers’ Expo.

A new race of downy mildew in spinach has been officially named. The International Working Group in Spinach (IWGP) officially denominates a new race of the downy mildew pathogen (Peronospora effusa) on spinach, Pe: 20, and Rijk Zwaan is pleased to offer resistant varieties.

Key dates for industry events through 2024, for Australia's vegetable and horticultural industry.

Bringing together bright, healthy and inspiring vegetables, along with a deeper understanding of the foods we eat and why, is Rijk Zwaan’s focus at this year’s Hort Connections.

The vegetable industry gathered in Victoria at the end of April for a horticultural showcase featuring the Victorian Vegetable Innovation Days and the 10th International Spinach Conference. The spinach conference was led by renowned spinach specialists Dr Jim Correll from the University of Arkansas and Dr Lindsey du Toit from Washington State University.

“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. Rijk Zwaan is presenting this promising tomato variety in line with its theme of ‘Freshly Forward, from Foundation to Future’ at Fruit Logistica in Berlin.