Do'bio-fortified' vegetable varieties mean opportunities?

摘要

As Europe's largest fresh-produce show, Fruit Logistica in Berlin is one of the main barometers for wider trends in the Continent's fresh-produce sector. Last month's show (5-7 February) saw several launches, including the event's Innovation Award winner, on the theme of vegetable varieties with extra nutrition. But in each case, this message has been framed within a package of attributes including taste, convenience and sustainability.The purple colouring of Syngenta's prize-winning cocktail tomato, Yoom, indicates high levels of anthocyanin and carotenoids, both antioxidants, while it is also unusually high in vitamin C, magnesium and potassium. These combine with an "intense umami taste with the perfect sweet-sour balance, among its many other qualities", according to the breeder. Syngenta chief executive Erik Fyrwald says: "These tomatoes are exactly what consumers are looking for in the grocery store—they are tasty, healthy andconvenient."