Hazera and TOP The Onion Group join forces in exclusive partnership for set onions

Focusing on quality, innovation, and shared expertise for the grower.

Hazera and TOP The Onion Group have entered into an exclusive, worldwide collaboration agreement for the supply of set onion seeds. From now on, Hazera will supply exclusively to TOP, who is responsible for the production and global distribution of first-year onion sets.


This strategic partnership goes beyond mere supply — both parties combine their strengths in variety development, cultivation guidance, and market knowledge. Hazera focuses on genetics and breeding, while TOP handles production.

Rien Murre (TOP The Onion Group) and Dirk Essing (Hazera)

A key competitive advantage is the cultivation in Northern France — a region with fertile, disease-free fields ideally suited for high-quality onion sets. Thanks to this unique position, TOP The Onion Group can provide growers with extremely reliable and vigorous planting material.

The shared goal is to supply growers worldwide with healthy and reliable planting material, tailored to diverse growing conditions. Hazera’s well-known onion varieties such as Crusado, Contado, Cupido, and Corrado are part of the portfolio and continue to be developed.

Innovating together for the future of onions
Erwin Groen (TOP The Onion Group) and Dirk Essing (Hazera) emphasize that the partnership enables them to respond faster to changing market conditions and to continue innovating together. Through knowledge sharing and close cooperation, they develop strong, practical varieties of high quality. This partnership is a win-win that raises the reliability and quality of onion sets to a higher level.

#GrowingTogether #InvestedExpertise

HAZERA: Growing Together

Hazera’s headquarters are situated in Israel and The Netherlands, with subsidiaries in twelve countries and an extensive distribution network providing services in over 100 additional markets. This worldwide presence enables us to be close to our customers.

Hazera is part of the Limagrain Group, an international agri-business based in France. Being a farmers’ cooperative, the Limagrain Group understands the needs of its customers and has grown to become the largest seed company in Europe, specialising in vegetables, field crops and cereal products. Limagrain’s vegetable seed division is the largest company in the industry.

Galilea Tomato: The Untold Story Behind Its Global Success

The Hazera Tomato team was taken by surprise when their determinate open field variety, Galilea, became a long-standing blockbuster. It is because Hazera was traditionally known for its indeterminate greenhouse varieties and globally grown round tomatoes.


Launched 15 years ago in Mexico, Galilea significantly impacted global tomato cultivation with its large fruits and robust plants, allowing for high yields and quality previously unseen in open field tomato productions.

Building on Galilea’s success in Mexico, the tomato team took a leap of faith and introduced Galilea in different parts of the world, where with its properties, Galilea overshadowed local varieties. Let’s have a look at some success highlights:

In California, Galilea is cultivated as a bush or staked and is sold in many American retail stores.

In the Ethiopian market, Galilea had such a successful launch that it became synonymous with quality tomatoes. The firmness and low juice content of the fruit made Galilea ideal for transportation, a critical factor for local farmers and traders.

Galilea revolutionized Turkey’s summer tomato market. Initially, the Turkish market was characterized by low quality varieties, but it became evident that growers who had experience with Galilea were willing to invest more in its quality seeds as they were able to charge a premium price for the produce.

“From the beginning Galilea gave us the feeling that it was going to be a blockbuster variety. We recognized that customers were coming to us instead of us having to go to them. We didn’t need to invest heavily in marketing or promotion because the variety spoke for itself.” ~ The marketing team.

Despite its success, Galilea faced challenges in certain regions due to emerging fungi and viruses. This recognition led to investing the expertise and efforts of our R&D team into finding solutions to these challenges. Our R&D and team of breeders developed several new commercial hybrids resulting in the birth of the “Galilea family,” which fights against Fusarium 3 fungus, Powdery Mildew, and TY virus. All while preserving the superior genetics and fruit qualities of Galilea and keeping its position as a versatile choice for growers.

“Galilea is the variety that made Hazera one of the leaders in the world’s open field tomato segment.” ~ Ezri Peleg, Global Breeding Lead for Tomatoes.

Adding on its success, in 2020, Galilea achieved a remarkable milestone by recording the highest sales for a single variety and by being sold in almost 40 countries. This achievement underscored Galilea’s status as the leading tomato variety in sales, bringing pride and a sense of accomplishment to everyone involved in its development and cultivation.

Galilea’s success story is a testament to the power of targeted breeding programs and the adaptability to diverse agricultural challenges. Its high yield, exceptional quality, and robust resistance to various diseases have set new standards in tomato cultivation globally, ensuring its continued dominance and popularity in the market.

Would you like to learn more about Galilea? Don’t hesitate to contact us.

Hazera’s Brand Story: Through Tatiana’s Eyes

Tatiana Waldraff brings over 20 years of experience in agriculture, including 13 years in the seed industry where she led sales and portfolio management. Four months ago, she joined Hazera as CBC Manager for the Americas. In her role, Tatiana oversees the regional portfolio, ensuring it delivers added value across the supply chain—enhancing crop performance for growers while also improving taste and nutritional quality for end consumers through the introduction of innovative traits.


How does Hazera’s brand story have an impact on your day to day?
“As a consumer, I’m always searching for the best products for my family. Being part of Hazera—and contributing to the supply chain that brings nutritious, flavorful produce to tables every day—makes me both happy and proud. What really drew me to Hazera is the down-to-earth, back-to-basics mindset that runs through the company. When you visit a local market, it becomes clear why we do what we do. It inspires us to develop varieties that truly make sense—for the growers, the customers, and everyone along the supply chain. That’s the beauty of being part of Limagrain. As a company owned by growers, we have a strong sense of direction and stay focused on what really matters.”

Can you share a project when you felt this pillar in action?
“It’s not about a single project —it’s about what we do every day. We’re constantly striving to add value for all our customers, not just the growers, but also distributors, supermarkets, and ultimately, the consumers. We’ve moved beyond simply offering traits like disease resistance or higher yields. Now, we’re also focused on shelf life, flavor, and sustainable features that help us deliver nutritious, great-tasting products—while being mindful of the environment and making the most of the limited land we have.”

What motivates you most about being part of this Hazera’s journey?
“I really enjoy being out in the field with our growers. It’s always inspiring to see how hard they work and how our products help make their lives easier. But what’s even more rewarding is following that journey down the supply chain—to the packers, shippers, retailers, and ultimately, the end customer. That’s when you truly see the impact of our efforts—the results of all the hard work we put into R&D and product development as a company. It’s incredibly fulfilling.”

What excites you the most about Hazera’s future?
“I’ve always believed—and even before I joined Hazera, I knew—that we have some of the best genetics in the industry. Today, that’s clearly reflected in how we’re developing new varieties and bringing innovative products to market. For instance, we were among the first companies to introduce ToBRFV-resistant tomatoes in affected regions, which truly transformed the outlook for many growers. Hazera has consistently been a pioneer in solving real challenges faced by growers and customers alike—and that’s a legacy we’re proud to continue. Our focus remains on delivering varieties that bring added value across the entire supply chain. In the past, seed companies were primarily focused on yield and basic disease resistance, with growers as their main customers. But that’s no longer the full picture. In recent years, the industry has evolved to recognize the importance of every link in the chain—from distributors to retailers and ultimately the consumers. Now, traits like taste, nutrition, shelf life, and visual appeal matter just as much as yield. It’s pushed us to raise the bar and innovate in exciting new ways—whether it’s introducing unique colors, special flavors, or varieties that make fruits and vegetables more appealing to people of all ages. That’s what makes our work even more meaningful: we’re not just growing produce, we’re inspiring healthier, more enjoyable eating habits.”

Would you like to learn more about our brand story? Contact us!

Hazera’s Brand Story: Through Clara’s Eyes

Clara Segura, has been a Tomato Breeding Lead and breeder at Hazera since 2011. Her role involves developing new beef and intermediate tomato varieties that are resilient, high-yielding, and adapted to various growing conditions.


How does Hazera’s brand story have an impact on your day to day?
“As a biologist, Hazera’s brand story profoundly influences my daily work. It reminds me to look to nature for inspiration and solutions, fostering a deep respect for the natural world. This perspective drives me to develop sustainable varieties that benefit both our growers and the environment.”

Can you share a project when you felt this pillar: Inspired by Nature in action?
“One memorable project was our collaboration with local growers to develop a new variety adapted to early Spring planting, following exactly the most important requirements they expressed: big fruit size, good cold adaptability and earliness. Seeing the growers’ enthusiasm and the thriving crops was a powerful reminder of how our work being inspired by nature can create tangible benefits for growers.”

What motivates you most about being part of Hazera’s journey?
“What motivates me the most is the opportunity to make a positive impact on global food security. Knowing that our innovative solutions help growers around the world grow healthier, more resilient crops is incredibly fulfilling and drives me to continue pushing the boundaries of agricultural science.”

What excites you the most about Hazera’s future?
“I am most excited about the potential for new technological advancements and sustainable practices that we can integrate into our work. The future holds endless possibilities for enhancing crop resilience and productivity, all while maintaining our commitment to the environment. At Hazera, we are poised to lead the way in creating a sustainable and prosperous future for agriculture.”

Would you like to learn more about our brand story? Contact us!