A new perspective on spinach cultivation.
July 2018; Southern California hit record high temperatures rising to 52.8°C in Death Valley. This not only led to conversations about the health of our planet’s climate, but also had my mind wandering to spinach. The rising consumer demand for fresh, fork-size spinach could not be overlooked, but rising vegetable prices strain household budgets. Nevertheless, demand for baby spinach will grow. As a highly nutrient-rich vegetable, spinach offers numerous health benefits. It can be grown organically and sustainably, is easy to process, and is versatile in its use – whether cooked, stir-fried, or eaten fresh.
It changed my perspective and I wondered: Is there a way to ensure consistent volume and quality 365 days a year, despite the extreme weather conditions whilst keeping cost per pound low? Together with the Spinach Team, we dived into seed programs and developed strategies for consistency in supply. The result is our Spinach 365 program: a series of varieties that produce uniformly thick, fork-sized, dark-green leaves with a long shelf life and good crunch, every day of the year.
We found out that it’s all about growing the right varieties that are perfectly slotted so that quality and delivery are guaranteed instead of focusing on one variety that needs to fit as many seasons as possible.
The Process
Via our Customer Team organization, we started implementing this program in the United States because spinach consumption is higher here (+43%) than in Europe. Meanwhile, we already introduced Spinach 365 in other countries, such as Italy, France, Spain, Australia, and the United Kingdom. At KWS Vegetables, we have organized ourselves around the food value chain to give our customers the fullest attention to understand their pain points. This way, we’re able to provide them with tailor-made solutions for the main growing regions. We literally have our boots on the grounds in all strategic regions, allowing us to map the complete baby spinach value chain. We want to use the Spinach 365 concept to establish seed programs that ensure consistent supply 365 days a year.
Our programs don’t always focus on growers; they can just as easily focus on packers’ needs. Perhaps, at some point, the choice won’t fall on the variety most interesting to growers, but one preferred because of shelf life, processability, or ‘crunch’.
The Progress
With Spinach 365, we offer a portfolio of varieties with different genetic backgrounds. Then, growers can rely on the broadest possible resistance to downy mildew and other pathogens. Thanks to the Spinach 365 concept, fresh spinach is available every single day of the year. We have mapped out the spinach value chain and keep the lines of communication open with growers. This way, we can ensure a consistent supply from field to fork. And it’s not just about keeping up with demand; we also focus on what packers and retailers need—like longer shelf life and that perfect crunch.
“This concept ultimately allows us to be a better chain partner. That’s also what our business model is based on; with the right advice and portfolio, sales will undoubtedly follow.”
