De Lier, The Netherlands
January 19, 2026
‘Wow, that tastes nice and fresh!’… Try Rijk Zwaan’s new, crunchy snack tomato Calchetto RZ and experience how crunchiness makes you feel. It’s one of the many traits we pay attention to when selecting snack vegetable varieties. Test our crunchy champions at Fruit Logistica 2026, along with other favourites for both the conventional market and the organic segment.
Positive stimulus
Why do we love crunchy foods so much? Not only because we associate crunchiness with freshness, but also because it acts as a positive stimulus in our brains, according to science. That’s why we find crunchy snacks so satisfying. So it’s with good reason that we’ve incorporated this trait into Rijk Zwaan’s snack vegetables: the Crunshella® snack lettuce, our MyCubies® mini cucumbers and now also our new mini plum tomato, Calchetto.
Calchetto: long-lasting crunch
As evidence of that crunch, Calchetto snack tomatoes score better than the standard on both ‘first bite’ and ‘crunchiness’ in sensory comparison tests. “It’s great that this variety retains its crunchiness throughout the value chain, right up until it is eaten,” says Albert van Os, Crop Specialist at Rijk Zwaan. “Additionally, this mini plum tomato for unlit high-tech cultivation has other appealing traits. Production levels are good, for example. And needless to say, Calchetto has ToBRFV resistance, as indicated by the Rugose Defense® label.” Thanks to all these attributes, various growers will be cultivating Calchetto on a larger scale this season.
Abrametto RZ: good balance between flavour and production
In the snack tomato segment, which is important for European supermarkets, we have also selected two strong varieties for growers in the Mediterranean region: Abrametto RZ and Laurencetto RZ. Like Calchetto, they are both resistant against ToBRFV. “The first large trials show that Abrametto has a good balance between a high standard of flavour and a good level of production, as well as being easy to grow. Organic growers in Spain are also achieving very good results with this new variety,” explains David Herzog, Crop Co-ordinator at Rijk Zwaan.
Laurencetto RZ: slightly different taste
He explains that Laurencetto requires better production conditions and has a slightly different taste, which some growers prefer. “Several companies and growers already have them in a pre-commercial step and are happy with the results so far. And we are continuously developing new varieties that fit the demands of growers, retailers and consumers.”
Join us at Fruit Logistica
At Rijk Zwaan, together with our partners, we aim to create a positive impact for the world’s food supply. Come and learn more about our innovation-driven sustainable solutions, our vegetables with extra crunch, and our inspiring story about health and nutrition. Visit the team at Fruit Logistica 2026 in Hall 1.2, D-13 to explore how our varieties can help you thrive in today’s ever-evolving market. You can also register for a guided tour of the Retail Centre in Berlin – our company’s very own retail experience facility.
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