Market demand increasingly favors tomatoes with a long shelf life (LSL), ensuring extended freshness in retail stores, reducing waste, and enhancing the overall consumer experience. While Germany remains the primary market for Sicilian fresh-market tomatoes, accounting for approximately 30% of exports in 2024, other destinations such as the United Kingdom and Scandinavia are also significant. At the same time, competition from major producers like Spain and Turkey—whose tomato exports to Germany rose by 17% in 2022—is intensifying. Emerging players such as Albania, along with long-standing competition from North Africa, are further reshaping the market landscape.

In this context, high production quality, supported by an extended LSL throughout the supply chain, minimizes post-harvest losses due to transportation and storage issues. This optimization enhances logistics efficiency and enables long-distance exports without compromising product integrity. Retailers benefit from improved stock management, while consumers enjoy fresher, better-tasting tomatoes that retain quality for longer, ultimately reducing food waste and increasing satisfaction across the supply chain.

Meeting all these critical market demands is Duresca F1, a cherry tomato variety that stands out not only for growers but also for distributors. Duresca F1 combines vigor, high yield, and excellent organoleptic qualities, positioning itself as a premium choice for both domestic and international markets.

Transplanting windows and disease resistance

In the field, Duresca F1 demonstrates strong adaptability and resilience, thanks to a robust plant structure that tolerates low temperatures well. Its greenhouse management is relatively straightforward, requiring only standard agronomic practices common to most commercial farms. This variety performs well in short production cycles but excels particularly in long winter cycles, maintaining uniform fruit size from the lower to the upper trusses. The fruits have a consistent average weight of approximately 25 grams across all trusses, ensuring uniformity and high-quality output.

Transplanting periods vary by region, with optimal timing in Sicily spanning from the third decade of August to the first decade of November. Compared to other varieties, Duresca F1 boasts high productivity and excellent fruit weight, maximizing returns for growers. Additionally, it features a strong resistance package against common diseases, including Vd/Fol: 0,1, For/Mj/ToMV/TYLCV/Ff, significantly reducing the need for phytosanitary interventions. The variety also exhibits excellent resistance to micro-cracking.

Extended Shelf Life, vibrant color, and intense flavor

One of Duresca F1’s most significant advantages is its extended shelf life, which does not come at the expense of organoleptic quality. The fruit is characterized by its vibrant color and intense flavor, qualities highly appreciated by consumers. Additionally, the rachis is fleshy and deep green, enhancing the overall visual appeal.

These attributes, along with insights from direct consultations with industry professionals, were highlighted during the recent open day dedicated to Duresca F1. The event, held at Azienda Agricola F.lli Senia (S.C. Camerina, RG), attracted over 250 visitors who had the opportunity to observe firsthand the variety’s uniformity and consistency across all trusses.

At the close of the event, the Harmoniz Italia team expressed gratitude to all growers, agronomists, and industry professionals in attendance. The overwhelmingly positive feedback received further validated Duresca F1’s outstanding production potential and quality performance.