October 26, 2022
In Brunei, Superfish Growers is the leading melon producer. The company goes the extra mile to deliver the best fruits using advanced farming techniques, labour intensive care and premium seeds. Director Foo Gwen Tong: “Quality seeds of the Finura RZ and Sagami RZ melon varieties lead to healthy crops and better produce.” Rijk Zwaan is showcasing its melon assortment at Asia Fruit Logistica in Bangkok from 2-4 November and at the Melon Event on 1 November.
Superfish Growers is located in the Agro-Technology Park, right in the heart of Brunei Darussalam. It includes farms that are situated on 50 hectares with a staff of 100 growers, supervisors and management. Tong: “All our products are grown in high-tech greenhouses that were established in 2018. Varieties of muskmelon and Piel de Sapo melons were the first and are still the most important commercial products. Smaller products are long red chillies, cherry tomatoes and lettuce. Our main market is currently in Asia: Singapore, Malaysia and China. We’re hoping to reach the Middle Eastern market in the near future.”
One tree, one fruit
Premium quality in melon production is achieved by the ‘one tree one fruit’ method. By ultimately leaving only one fruit on each plant, nutrition can be concentrated inside a single fruit, creating an explosion of taste. Besides that, the farmers are trained to carry out daily monitoring. “Our fruits are meticulously looked after every day from 6 am to 6 pm for 90 days. Furthermore, we use high-technology farming techniques, such as the automated fertigation system,” Tong explains.
Offer customers new values
As part of this innovative approach, Superfish Growers is constantly testing other melon varieties and types. Tong: “We want to provide our customers with new value. Every new variety or product can be an innovation of the previous version.”
Two new Rijk Zwaan melon varieties were selected in this process. Sagami RZ is an Andes type with green skin, green flesh and a sweet, delicious taste. The Piel de Sapo Finura RZ – white flesh and good sugar content – is the other variety. “We’re happy with the consistency in the quality of seeds. The product quality is on a par with our standards in terms of growth and shelf life. Good quality seeds lead to healthy crops and better produce,” says Tong.
Creating a better future for agriculture
Besides the good quality, Superfish Growers appreciates Rijk Zwaan as a company. Tong: “Their standards in seed production and their focus on the social and ethical aspects were the main reasons we chose Rijk Zwaan. The company by far ticks all the boxes for us. Moreover, the values of both our companies are in line. We share the vision of supporting sustainable food supply and creating a better future for agriculture.”
Melon a fruit of choice for many families
Tong is optimistic about the melon market in Asia. “The demand for melons has grown significantly in the last few years. It has extended from the common watermelon and rock melons and now includes muskmelons and Piel de Sapo melons. In this growing market the melon has the potential to be a fruit of choice for many families in the near future. Having said that, of course, we need to constantly innovate in terms of both production and marketing.”
Join Rijk Zwaan at Asia Fruit Logistica and Melon Event
To encourage retailers, traders and other chain partners in Asia to add more colour in the fresh produce category, Rijk Zwaan will showcase its colourful palette of bright, healthy and inspiring vegetables at Asia Fruit Logistica 2-4 November in Bangkok. Come and meet us on stand F-17! And if you are interested in joining the Rijk Zwaan Melon Event on 1 November, please send an e-mail to export@rijkzwaan.nl before 26 October.
Topics
Species
