Healthy onion sets that growers can rely on
For more than thirty years, TOP The Onion Group has been a leading player in the production of first-year onion sets and the export of onions for consumption. What sets the company apart? A strong focus on quality and healthy starting material.
“We do everything we can to grow our onion sets as healthy as possible,” says International Sales Manager Erwin Groen. “That’s why TOP is the only company working on virgin land in northern France. This results in healthy products that growers can truly rely on.”
A shared ambition for quality and sustainable breeding
Over the years, the focus on quality at both Hazera and TOP The Onion Group evolved into a broader ambition. After years of working together in practice, it became clear that more could be achieved through closer collaboration. That shared conviction brought both parties together in an exclusive partnership.
“Hazera is one of the few companies truly involved in breeding varieties specifically for onion sets,” Erwin explains. Rather than adapting existing varieties, Hazera focuses on targeted breeding. According to Erwin, this is exactly where Hazera’s strength lies. “Many players try to tailor varieties to the market without a solid breeding program behind them. These varieties often originate from countries such as Australia or Japan. A variety that performs well there may struggle under Dutch conditions. We want varieties that are reliable, perform when it matters, and fit local growing conditions. That’s why it’s so important to develop varieties in the same environment where they are ultimately grown.”
The partnership therefore goes far beyond seed alone. “We are in close contact and share everything,” Erwin explains. “From market developments to feedback from growers. Together, we look years ahead and proactively address challenges such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and fusarium.”
For Erwin, it’s clear: “Together, you are stronger. This collaboration enables us not only to offer better varieties, but also to safeguard quality and reliability for growers.”
Top performance within the onion set portfolio: Crusado and Akado
Within the current onion set portfolio, several varieties clearly stand out among TOP customers, including Crusado and Akado. “Crusado is, in our view, one of the best varieties in the early segment today. It is clear that breeding has focused on achieving the optimal combination of early harvest, high yield, good storability, and strong root development. Thanks to its powerful root system, Crusado is also better able to cope with drier conditions,” Erwin explains. “Crusado has meanwhile become a real favorite among many onion growers: the variety delivers high returns and, thanks to its excellent quality, is also very suitable for export to overseas destinations.”
Akado is a true standout in the red segment, mainly because this variety does not require heat treatment. “Akado is the only red variety currently available on the market for which this treatment is not necessary. Normally, red varieties are prepared through a treatment with high temperature and humidity to prevent the onions from forming seed stalks,” Erwin explains. “Although this preparation is effective in preventing bolting, it has the drawback of increasing the risk of bacterial rot. As a result, many growers have stopped producing second-year red onions. We believe these bacterial issues are largely linked to the preparation process. With Akado, we have found a clear solution. In addition, Akado is also a very early variety, which makes it even more attractive for growers.”
Varieties such as Crusado and Akado illustrate what TOP The Onion Group stands for: reliability, quality, and solutions that work in practice. Combined with the intensive collaboration with Hazera, this forms a solid foundation for continuing to develop onion sets in the future that are tailored to Northern European conditions and the needs of growers.
