VEGETABLE growers were able to get an up-close look at what could be done with their products in the hands of a master at the National Horticultural and Innovation Expo in Gatton in July.
Seed company Rijk Zwaan supported the innovation theme at the event not just in products but also in the kitchen.
Its Lockyer Valley Growers Love My Salad Tent presented creative ways of getting consumers to eat more vegetables whilst enjoying flavours, textures and experience.
Local chef Glen Barratt demonstrated three dishes designed especially for the event; showcasing the best of local and seasonal Lockyer Valley produce.
Hosted by Rijk Zwaan’s Frances Tolson, a number of local growers also joined Love My Salad onstage to tell their stories about life producing vegetables in the fertile Lockyer Valley.
Rijk Zwaan also held an extensive variety trial with its full range of brassica, lettuce and spinach varieties selected for the Australian market, with a number of highlights in each of the crops.
The company has continued an active presence in the Lockyer Valley for the past 20 years through breeding, trialling, product development and annual demonstration trials, many with the Queensland Department of Agriculture and more recently the University of Queensland.
Local sales representative Paul Connolly said it was a valuable alliance.
“We proudly consider ourselves committed partners to the Lockyer Valley Growers and look forward to a continued future of innovation and collective success,” Mr Connolly said.
One talking point for many salad producers and processors alike was the new Knox lettuce range; lettuce varieties that exhibit delayed pinking after cutting.
According to Rijk Zwaan’s lettuce coordinator for the Asia and Oceania Harry Turna, Knox absolutely changes the game for processed lettuce.
"Product that looks this much fresher after packing means consumers will enjoy their salads more," Mr Turna said.
There are a number of varieties in the Knox range including cos, iceberg, batavia and Salanov.
National sales manager Steven Roberts said it was a really exciting time for salad leaf production.
“The Knox trait can offer so much, and the first varieties in the range show a lot of immediate commercial potential,” he said.
Rijk Zwaan’s spinach crop specialist for Australia Rob Philip, presented the spinach assortment.
“You can see the adaptability and depth of our spinach program; such a large range of varieties, right from the very slow midsummer material to the quicker winter material," he said.
"Within each segment of the market we have a variety to cover each of the official strains of mildew.
“If growers are unsure, then they can talk to us about the best variety from our assortment to suit their crop, time slot and region.
"Also if they are unsure which strain of mildew that they have on farm we can arrange for testing to clarify and present them with the safest options."
A standout of the trial was Goanna RZ for the midsummer time slot, with a robust dark green leaf, a strong resistance package and excellent performance in hot conditions.
Wildebeest RZ complements Goanna RZ; being a couple of days quicker it gives a spread of harvest maturity in summer sowings but will also transition well from cold to hot and from hot to cold conditions in the shoulder season; all this whilst maintaining a dark green colour and strength against disease.
Additions to the hybrid chard range showed a glimpse of the future with two follow ups to market leading red vein chard Charlie RZ, as well as a hybrid bulls’ blood and silverbeet.
As one of the first commercial hybrid silverbeet varieties it sparked interest as a mature transplanted product, with a clean white stem, no leaf disease, a good level of savoy, a great flavour and the fact that it is a monogerm which can offer significant labour savings in propagation and growing.
Alongside standard brassica varieties were several specialties that really caught the eye of a lot of people, none more so than the Romanesco cauliflower Puntoverde which has a striking appearance and fantastic eating qualities.
Add to this the ability for year-round performance in Australia, product quality and varietal strength against disease and it is a package hard to ignore.
Ashley Walmsley
Ashley Walmsley is the editor of ACM's only national, fresh produce magazine, Good Fruit & Vegetables, while also covering horticulture stories for the agricultural papers and websites. He also writes the weekly, The Ringer, column in the Qld Country Life.
Ashley Walmsley is the editor of ACM's only national, fresh produce magazine, Good Fruit & Vegetables, while also covering horticulture stories for the agricultural papers and websites. He also writes the weekly, The Ringer, column in the Qld Country Life.
