RZ-100-wt4-E-flipbook-240702 - Flipbook - Page 25
In his autumn catalogue of 1930, he stresses the
Rijk Zwaan’s optimism appears to be no match for
need for high-quality seeds (supplied by him):
the inescapable recession, however. Although his
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35
Potentaat
Tomato
turnover continues to grow in 1930, the number
‘In no other year when we have put pen to paper
of non-collectible debts is also rising. In 1930, the
to write a foreword in our catalogue have pro昀椀ts
company still makes a net profit of 11,000 guilders,
for the majority of commercial growers been as
with a turnover of 125,000 guilders. But on the
abysmal as they are today. The prices paid for
other hand, more than 6,000 guilders must be
excellent vegetables were absolutely not enough.
debited to the accounts receivable account. This
That in those circumstances second and third-
is a significant part of the profit. The turnover will
grade quality su昀昀er the consequences needs no
decline after this until 1937 (with the exception of
explanation. Very often they didn’t manage to
1932). To turn the tide, Rijk Zwaan decides to also
attract any o昀昀ers of money or, in the growers’
start selling his products abroad. He has a German
terminology, they “were dumped”. It deserves
edition of the catalogue printed especially for his
extra recommendation, therefore, as far as it
easterly neighbours and enjoys modest success
is within one’s own powers to do so, to grow
with it. In 1931, he sells seeds in Germany to the value
昀椀rst-grade vegetables as much as possible.
of around 10,000 guilders, which is 7.5 per cent of
A good means to this end is the use of selected
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36
Vroege groene
spitse
Savoy cabbage
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36
Founding of the
Federal Seed
Testing Institute
(BKZ).
his sales at the time.
sowing seed. This is the reason why we do not
admit defeat but are doing everything possible,
by means of selection, to improve existing varieties
and, by means of carrying out purposeful
cross-breeding, to breed new varieties
where possible.’
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1935-1936
The 1932 German edition
of the catalogue
Turnover
Omzet
40
0000
1924-1940 | On the eve of breeding recognition
23
FTE
FTE
–
0000
