In the last decade, consumers have taken the reins of the horticultural market, setting innovation trends for seed houses.
The full R&D potential of companies such as Semillas Fitó is already focused on developing varieties that are profitable for the producer, but which also have the qualities demanded by the consumer. There is a search for the right colours, sizes, shapes and tastes.
Following this line of work, and taking into account that the development of a new variety is a process that takes several years, it is increasingly important to know the tastes of consumers and make an effort to anticipate market trends.
To this end, Semillas Fitó has signed a collaboration agreement with Cocina de Ideas, a food innovation centre created by Huercasa in 2015 to carry out research and development in processed products, which is basically a centre specialised in the analysis of varieties and trends in the horticultural market.
Cocina de ideas de la Naturaleza SL is based in Praia de Navalhorno, in the municipality of Granja de San Ildefonso, Segovia, in a natural environment in the National Park of the Sierra de Guadarrama.
The idea behind setting it up in this location was to offer companies an isolated environment, far from processing plants, to reflect on new products and projects, meeting the needs of its customers and effectively explaining their values and work philosophy.
The research covers agronomic aspects, market trends, processing and treatment of processed foods.
The main activity is the generation and development of integrated innovation projects, mainly for the generation of new products, covering agronomic aspects, market trends, processing and packaging studies, as well as food treatment technologies.
Innovation is carried out from the original idea to the commercial launch, covering all stages, from the planning of tests to the product's development at industrial level, as well as all the necessary studies (with consumers, nutritional and shelf life studies, etc.).
To do this, they have modern facilities with all the necessary technology and equipment.
The work agreement between Semillas Fitó and Cocina de Ideas focuses on the development of different types of studies:
Suitability of Fitó's horticultural varieties for a wide range of industrial processes: evaluation of the industrial performance of varieties, characterization of the quality, etc.
Post-harvest studies, evolution of quality in the course of the product's shelf life.
Studies to learn about the perception of consumers, their preferences and demands.
Studies with producers-customers-consumers (group dynamics) that allow us to investigate consumption preferences and therefore maximise the product's acceptance.
Study of strategies that provide added value throughout the food chain.
With this agreement, Semillas Fitó bets on its "Foodture" philosophy, which had already been presented at Fruit Logistica and which is an innovative concept aimed at meeting the new needs of consumers, responding to their demands in the fields of quality, health, new tastes or formats, with varieties such as Monterosa and Essentia tomatoes, Waikiki melons, etc.
Source: campocyl.es
