The success story of the tomato continues unabated. The 2022 Fruit Logistica Innovation Award (FLIA) went to the Amela tomato by Granada La Palma from Spain. 

Over two days, April 6 and 7, the trade visitors at the Berlin-based Fruit Logistica were able to vote on the most coveted international award for the fruit trade. Gaining around two-thirds of the votes cast, the Amela tomato was the clear winner. 

The Amela tomato is unique for its intense aroma, a high Brix value and many nutrients and amino acids. The know-how for growing this plant, which tastes almost as sweet as a fruit, comes from two cultures. The idea originally came from Japan in 1996, and the variety is currently being cultivated in southern Spain using traditional methods. 

The company says that by reducing irrigation to a minimum, sugars and acids can be concentrated. Amela tomatoes are available in sizes between 50 and 140 g.

The silver award went to Tevel Advanced Technologies from Israel for their flying autonomous robot which has the ability, in flight, to pinpoint individual berries from an optimum position and angle controlled by AI algorithms and computer vision. This ensures crops can be harvested precisely when they are ripe and minimizes the number of workers needed. 

The bronze award went to the winners of the 2020 competition:  Syngenta Seeds, Netherlands. In 2012, two employees discovered a cauliflower with side shoots. After years of testing, breeding and tasting, the company introduced istem 2021 to the market in the UK. The stalks are very tender and taste nutty and sweet, so that the cauliflower can be eaten raw or cooked. 

Source:  Fruit Logistica April 7, 2022 news release