Demo Day highlights tomato genetics and disease resistance progress
I mid-May, Bayer De Ruiter® hosted its Spring Demo Day in Leamington, Ontario, bringing together growers and industry partners. The event gave attendees a close look at the latest developments in greenhouse tomatoes and specialty crop production.
The event was held in one of North America’s leading regions for controlled-environment agriculture. Visitors were guided through both commercial and pre-commercial crop trials. These tours provided direct interaction with breeders, product experts, and global team members. Growers also took part in detailed discussions about new products and future market opportunities.
A key focus of the event was innovation in tomato production. Bayer De Ruiter® presented advancements aimed at improving yield, fruit quality, and market flexibility. Special attention was given to resistance against Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV), an important challenge for growers. The company highlighted its use of multi-gene resistance strategies to address evolving disease risks while maintaining strong crop performance.
“We are passionate about crafting exceptional products that delight consumers, while empowering growers with robust disease resistance packages designed to thrive throughout the demanding growing season,” said Stephanie Poletti, Unit Portfolio Activation & Marketing Manager at Vegetables by Bayer.
“Events like Demo Day give us the opportunity to showcase the strength of our product pipeline while engaging in meaningful conversations directly with our growers. Those interactions and customer insights help shape the future of the products we focus on and bring to market,” said Poletti.
Several tomato varieties were featured during the event. Riboski, a beef tomato, stood out for its large fruit size, strong yield potential, and attractive red color.
Another variety, DRTH5076, is a pre-commercial small beef tomato developed for growers seeking consistent production and traditional fruit shape. The tomato-on-the-vine portfolio, including Grandice RES, Serenity, and Luminity, offered different benefits suited to various growing conditions.
Growers also received an early look at upcoming varieties planned for release in the coming years. Roma varieties such as DRTJ4081 and DRTJ4101 showed strong yield potential and adaptability to different markets.
Cocktail and cherry tomatoes, including DRTC8116 and DRTC8613, are being tested to achieve a balance between flavor and productivity.
“Our goal is to continue advancing durable multi-gene resistance while maintaining the fruit quality, consistency, yield potential and reliability growers have come to expect from De Ruiter genetics. That balance of innovation and proven performance continues to build confidence in our brand and in the future of greenhouse production,” said Sandeep Sakhale, Product Development Breeder, Tomato.
Industry experts shared insights on the importance of combining innovation with reliability. They emphasized that future success depends on delivering high-quality produce while ensuring durability and disease resistance in crops.
In addition to technical presentations, the event included tasting sessions where visitors sampled tomatoes along with peppers and cucumbers. Networking opportunities and group discussions encouraged collaboration and knowledge sharing among participants.
Photo Credit: DeRuiterCanada2026