Among Italy’s premier areas for fresh tomato production, Lazio holds a pivotal position. Thanks to the Agro Pontino area — with roughly 1,500 hectares of greenhouse vegetable production — this region has become a true point of reference for quality horticulture in Central and Southern Italy. It’s in this context that Harmoniz, an innovative global seed company dedicated to the development of high-value vegetable varieties, has chosen to intensify its presence with a direct, local team.

Representing the company in this area is Rosario Contrafatto, Sales Representative for Italy Mainland. “As Contrafatto explains, ‘Having a direct presence in Lazio means being able to engage daily with growers, understand their needs, and highlight the value of our portfolio through field trials and technical open days. Our goal is to build strong, lasting relationships — based on listening, sharing, and exchanging experience.”

In the Field: listening to growers, showcasing solutions

One of the key moments in this initiative came on June 5th, when Harmoniz hosted an Open Day at the Gi.Ma.Fra. farm in Fondi (LT), a vital hub of the Pontine vegetable sector. The event featured a hands-on showcase of some of Harmoniz’s most promising tomato varieties, assessed under real-world growing conditions.

As Giuseppe Busacca, Head of Development for Italy, emphasized, “Events like this are vital for fine-tuning our research and development to match the actual agronomic dynamics of each area. Every region has its own unique characteristics, and in this case, we’re dealing with production cycles that demand reliable, high-performing, and top-quality varieties.”

Throughout the demonstration, several new offerings from the Harmoniz portfolio were introduced, tailored to meet the specific needs of local farms:

Croconì F1 — A midi-plum tomato that delivers an intense flavor and premium visual appeal. Its fruits boast a uniform, deep color and form compact, well-structured clusters. The plant provides strong resistance to cracking and blossom-end rot, making it ideal for the area’s growing conditions. Its intermediate resistance to ToBRFV, combined with firm flesh and long shelf life, positions it as an attractive option for both local markets and retail supply chains.

 Mira Sol F1 (TT-826) — A bright yellow mini-plum tomato that maintains its rich color right through to full ripening. Its robust field performance, resistance to ToBRFV, and high tolerance to cracking make it highly adaptable across different production environments. Its rich, aromatic flavor, elevated Brix, and long shelf life add value both in harvest and throughout the supply chain.

Arucimeli F1 — A red mini-plum tomato distinguished by its bright, glossy fruit and its exceptional consistency throughout the production cycle. Its resistance to ToBRFV, yellow calix and low sensitivity to blossom-end rot and yellow calix make it ideal for spring and summer planting. Its attractive fruit maintains a uniform shape, with consistently high sweetness and compact, regular clusters.

 Carreras F1 — A smooth, round cluster tomato that has long been established across many Italian growing areas. Growers value its high yield, excellent fruit uniformity, deep red color, and firm texture. Its long post-harvest life makes it a dependable and profitable choice across planting seasons.

Forging Strong Partnerships from Field to Market

The Fondi Open Day is one piece of a larger, long-term initiative that Harmoniz is committed to pursuing across the region. As Contrafatto concludes, “Today’s growers seek solutions that are easy to manage but deliver concrete results — both agronomically and commercially. In this sense, our approach is gaining very positive feedback.”

Harmoniz’s approach in Lazio is clear: stand alongside growers, share experience and knowledge, and provide innovative, sustainable solutions. A collaborative effort built every day — field by field.