Christian Bassi, a young vegetable grower from Ticino, Switzerland, produces cherry tomatoes in his ultra-modern greenhouse covering 0.5 hectares. All the tomatoes are grown using the soilless method, which is particularly environmentally friendly and conserves resources, emphasizes Christian Bassi, who is the second generation of his family to run the vegetable-growing business, which was founded in 1986. However, despite the indoor facilities, there are pests. These are combated with beneficial insects. He is convinced that growing winter tomatoes in Switzerland is more sustainable than transporting them over 1,000 kilometers.
However, transportation is not the deciding factor in the environmental balance, explains Vanessa Burg, an environmental engineer at ETH Zurich. In particular, the lack of water massively worsens the environmental balance of the Spanish imported goods. According to the scientist, working conditions are an additional factor that can be better controlled in Switzerland. Burg: "If you look at all the factors, the Swiss winter tomato wins." Even though Bassi's Rispencherry tomatoes are almost four times more expensive than their Spanish competitors on the shelves of retail partner Coop, demand is high. The Ticino winter tomatoes are sold in several Coop stores. As a result, he wants to double the production of winter tomatoes by next year.
For more information:
https://orticolabassi.ch/