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Marshal: 30 Years and still an undeniable star!
Happy 30th birthday, Marshal! You are the pointed cabbage that has conquered the market with your fresh taste and quality.
At Hazera, everything is driven by our passion for innovation and our commitment to growers. We develop vegetable varieties that nourish communities and contribute to a strong and sustainable food system. The journey of Marshal, our groundbreaking pointed cabbage, is a testament to this dedication.
It all started with Duchy, the first pointed cabbage to make a significant impact in Western Europe. Developed in the 1980s, Duchy won the hearts of growers and consumers with its unique shape and natural sweetness, earning it the popular name “sweetheart cabbage.”
Growers saw the potential to extend Duchy’s availability and began storing it in cold storage, which extended the season by six weeks. This led to the need for a variety with even better storage qualities—one that would maintain its quality over a longer period. That’s when Marshal came into the picture.
Marshal was specifically developed to redefine the standard of storability. Unlike other varieties, Marshal retains its premium quality even after long storage. It has fewer yellow leaves, a firmer texture, and no black pepper spots. This breakthrough led to the creation of a new market segment: pointed cabbage designed for longer storage without compromising freshness or taste.
Our partners in the Netherlands contributed to Marshal’s success by using Controlled Atmosphere storage, where oxygen in the storage room is limited, and flowpacking techniques, which further extend its shelf life. Thanks to these innovations, Marshal became the retailer’s top choice, appreciated for both its consistency and quality.
“Marshal excels after Controlled Atmosphere storage; the lack of deterioration after opening the storage room is exceptional. Unlike other varieties that may show signs of wilting, yellowing, or loss of structure, Marshal maintains its fresh appearance, firm texture, and sweet taste, even after prolonged storage.” – Maarten Danenberg, Product Manager Cabbage and Brussels Sprouts.
Duchy laid the foundation, and Marshal has strengthened Hazera’s position in the pointed cabbage market. With the addition of Earl and Baron—varieties with improved plant health and better field performance—our portfolio continues to grow, offering tailored solutions for various markets.
Would you like to learn more about Marshal? Contact us!
Cabbages: Growing food trend
From wraps to kimchi
Sauerkraut may be on the decline, but its consumption has been stable for years.
The way we eat sauerkraut is changing: from stew to an oven dish, as a side dish, or in a salad. “A new, young target group has discovered the health benefits of fermented products. That gives cabbage a boost.
Large part of cabbage for industry
The majority of red cabbage goes to the processing industry. They end up cut into vegetable packets or pre-cooked in jars. About 70% of white cabbage goes to processing plants and other processors. This is preferably done as soon as possible after harvest, according to Maarten Danenberg, product manager of Hazera. The remaining 30% of the white cabbage in the Netherlands ends up on the shelf in its entirety. That proportion is higher with pointed cabbage, says Danenberg: “Pointed cabbage is easier to cut in your own kitchen. And we’re seeing more and more recipes with half or a quarter of pointed cabbage, pan-fried or grilled on the barbecue.”
Hazera’s pointed cabbages Regency & Dutchman
Pointed cabbage is one of the head cabbages that is clearly growing in volume, Danenberg observes: “Not spectacular; a few percent per year. But that increase has been going on for about twenty years.” The development is coming from the United Kingdom, especially to the Netherlands and Germany.” Popular varieties at Hazera are Regency and Dutchman (for summer cultivation) and Marshal (storage). We also see growth in our flat cabbage varieties like Callaway & Catelya for Central Europe, the Balkans and Turkey.
Brassica breeding is part of Hazera’s heritage
It originated with development of varieties for Western Europe, but today we are a global player with a wide assortment of purpose specific varieties. Our Research and Breeding teams are closely connected to our global network of subsidiaries and distributors, through whom we are in touch with the latest industry trends and preferred requirements within the various Brassica crops.
