IMPERIAL COUNTY, CA - Enza Zaden hosted its first Onion Field Day, showcasing its onion portfolio with promises of more on the way.
The event, which took place April 27th at the Thomas Cox Farm in Brawley, CA, drew the participation of more than 40 select southwestern growers and dealers, as well as the delegation of six key growers from Brazil.
“We’re highly committed to leadership in onion breeding programs for the southwest, and we recognize the value of grower insights in developing new varieties,” said Javier Russek, Senior Product Specialist for Enza Zaden USA, in a press release. “For that reason, we set up the field day as a series of one-on-one sessions for growers to walk the field with our team of product specialists and researchers, gaining insight into current and upcoming commercial varieties, some of which could be on grower fields by next season.”
With over 14 different onion varieties, including 100 percent organic varieties, and more hybrid varieties on the way, Russek added that there was more in store for growers in the category. “Our innovation pipeline is very exciting for southwestern onion growers.”
One of the current varieties the company highlighted, Francesca, offers both mechanical harvesting potential and a tolerance to fungal diseases like Pink Root.
“The combination of Francesca’s firmness, its relatively uniform size and its excellent top vigor, provide an opportunity to significantly reduce labor costs while improving overall harvest efficiency,” Pine Higgins, Area Sales Manager for Enza Zaden USA, said of the mid to late short-day yellow globe onion. “Mechanical harvest can make a major difference, and growers are excited about varieties with that game changing potential.”
Other short-day varieties that Enza’s field day featured included:
- Taipan, which can be sown in a wider window
- Madalyn, a large bulb, high-yielding, quick-to-mature variety
- Samurai, featuring partial resistance to fungal diseases alongside good flavor and firmness
- Gabriella, featuring large, uniform, globe-shaped bulbs with an extended shelf-life
Reflecting on the success of its premier Onion Field Day, Enza Zaden concluded that growers appreciated the detailed insights into its hybrid development, and its continuing investment in short-day varieties, as well as other onion segments.
