The Hazera Benelux team recently took part in the Werktuigendagen in Oudenaarde, Belgium – one of the region’s largest agricultural events. Over the course of the weekend, thousands of visitors attended this event to discover the latest developments in agricultural machinery, seeds, and crop solutions.
We shared our stand with our exclusive partner of onion seeds, Beaucarne, creating a joint presence that reflected both companies’ strong collaboration and shared commitment to supporting growers across the region. Together, the teams welcomed a constant flow of visitors, customers, and partners to discuss products, innovations, and field performance.
Despite the unpredictable weather, the event remained lively throughout the weekend. The rain even worked to our advantage, as many visitors stopped by the tent for shelter – offering the perfect setting for valuable conversations and networking.
A new hospitality concept was also introduced this year: visitors could enjoy freshly grilled hamburgers from a food truck located on the terrace of the stand. The initiative was well received and contributed to a warm and welcoming atmosphere throughout the event.
In addition to engaging with visitors, visitors got to attend several live demonstrations, including harvesting demos featuring Hazera’s leek and cabbage varieties. These provided valuable insights into the performance of Hazera products under real field conditions.
The Werktuigendagen proved to be a successful and inspiring weekend for both Hazera and Beaucarne, strengthening relationships with growers and partners while highlighting the companies’ joint dedication to the agricultural sector. We are already looking forward to the next event: the Agro-Expo in Roeselare.
Meet the People Behind the Crops – Heritage Edition: Arthur Zuidweg
Posted on Oct 07, 2025
At Hazera, we value the people who have helped shape our company over the years. In this Heritage Edition, we reconnect with colleagues who have either moved on from Hazera or have been part of our team for many years. Today, we speak with Arthur Zuidweg, Supply Chain Planning Expert. For more than 40 years, Arthur has been an integral part of Hazera’s story.
Arthur began as an assistant bean breeder, coming from a background in garden architecture. Introduced to the seed business by his father-in-law, this step proved life-changing — bringing him not only a lifelong career but also a lifelong marriage. Arthur’s current role is Planning expert within the Supply Chain department.
From beans to supply chain, Arthur has seen it all. “Back in the day, we even did the quality checks ourselves. NAKTuinbouw trained me for this,” he recalls. Beyond work, Arthur treasures his family, with whom he shares many proud memories and joys, including his grandchildren.
What is a common myth about your job or field of expertise?
“There’s a common myth that Supply Chain ‘knows’ everything or can fix every problem. In reality, while we do play a central role — acting as the spider in the web between production, processing, demand planning, and sales — our real strength lies in connecting the dots.” Arthur explains that it’s Supply Chain’s responsibility to bring the right people and processes together. “But it’s important to stress that solving every issue requires collaboration across the organization. It’s never a one-team effort.”
In your opinion, what is the most important personality trait someone should have to work in your industry?
“In Supply Chain, you need to work well under pressure and show resilience. It’s about maintaining a helicopter view while staying calm and collected — especially during the high season, when stress levels can be intense,” explains Arthur.
Tell us about a project you’re proud of and why?
“I’ve been a Supply Chain Manager and Team Lead for more than 12.5 years. Beyond the business responsibilities, I truly enjoyed leading a team — it was a rewarding experience, and I’m proud of the team I had the opportunity to build. The personal connections mean a great deal to me.”
Arthur also benefited from the support of his wife, who managed a large team herself. “Exchanging experiences and learning from each other was inspiring, and she often offered me an invaluable ‘outside-in’ perspective.”
What does “Hazera – Growing Together” mean to you?
“Literally growing together. With a sense of unity and solidarity, we do this as a team — taking care of each other, listening to one another, and showing respect, even in our differences.” Arthur is convinced that that’s very important nowadays.
Tell us something interesting/funny about you most people don’t know.
“In my spare time, I enjoy woodworking with my son. Together, we design and create wooden tables with epoxy. Woodcraft is my hobby, and it’s even more special because I get to share it with him.”
What lessons have you learned in 40 years that you would pass on to younger colleagues?
“Over the years, I’ve witnessed the company’s growth, marked by rising sales and an expanding crop portfolio,” Arthur says. “But beyond the business achievements, the most valuable lesson I’ve learned in four decades is the importance of truly listening. When we listen to each other, we gain deeper understanding. And that’s how we find the best solutions together.”
What do you hope the company will achieve in the years ahead? Arthur doesn’t beat around the bush: “We strive to be the market leader in onions.”
If we opened a time capsule from your first year here, what would we find inside?
“A forklift would be in the time capsule because it symbolises those early years of hard, hands-on work. And,” Arthur continues, “it reflects the practical side of my role, the dedication to keeping everything moving, and the way we all helped lay the foundation for what the company has become today. It’s more than just a machine, it represents reliability, effort, and the essential contribution we made from day one.”
Do you want to stay connected with our Hazera people?
Follow us on our social media channels to stay connected with our Hazera people! If you have any questions left, don’t hesitate to ask them via our contact page!
Spanish growers have long sought a pepper that combines vibrant color with an ideal fruit size, especially suited for the popular Flow Pack packaging format demanded by markets like the United Kingdom.
Hazera developed Insignia, a standout yellow blocky pepper, with exactly these needs in mind, bringing a high-quality option that meets market standards and consumer expectations. Insignia was introduced six years ago to the Spanish market and is cultivated specifically for greenhouse environments.
Insignia is more than just an attractive yellow pepper. It has been a game-changer in sustainable farming practices. As one of the first yellow pepper varieties to offer Lt resistance, Insignia allows growers to cultivate under reduced treatment conditions, helping to reduce chemical dependency.
As a global leader in the seed industry, Hazera knows that success starts with trust. Initially, some growers were hesitant to embrace the reduced treatment approach, even with Insignia’s disease resistance. Demonstrating our dedication, we worked side-by-side with growers, sharing expertise and crop management tips to help them overcome their concerns.
Jose Manuel López Vargas, a grower from Almeria who has been cultivating Insignia since its debut, stated: “Insignia is a high-yield variety, giving me confidence year after year. I plan to continue growing it in the years to come.”
Today, Insignia is the leader for early-season production in Spain, with nearly 50% of the market share. Its adaptability has also been proven in successful trials in Poland, reflecting Hazera’s ability to combine global innovation with local expertise. This variety enables growers to achieve high yields and provide fresh, nutritious produce to northern Europe during the winter months—a testament to our belief that the fruits of our labor strengthen people and communities worldwide.
As a testimony to Insignia’s success, when the cooperative MABE in Almeria conducted a thorough evaluation of the variety, their quality control manager, Jesús Alvarez, said: “This variety meets all our requirements, enabling us to provide our customers with a Flow Pack program of great quality, featuring vibrant yellow color, size, and consistency.”
Looking ahead, Insignia is expected to maintain its leadership position, backed by Hazera’s ongoing commitment to innovation. New hybrids are in development to reinforce our dedication to offering resilient, high-performance varieties. At Hazera, we remain focused on creating seeds that empower growers, enrich communities, and contribute to a healthier, sustainable future.
Would you like to learn more about Insignia? Don’t hesitate to contact us.
At Hazera, we are proud of our dedicated team, which works passionately to provide our growers with the best products. While we tend to put our products in the headlines, it is the Hazera team who are behind our success. Let’s shine the spotlight on Maria Martinez, Marketing Communications Manager from Almería, Spain.
Maria Martinez is 30 years old and has been with Hazera for almost nine years. She started in finance at Hazera and gradually began combining both finance and marketing communications. “When I started, the Marcom department didn’t exist at all. We only had a Facebook page but we didn’t use Instagram or other platforms,” Maria explains. “So I created the Marcom department. Then we began to professionalise our marketing actions more and more.” While she also handles finance responsibilities—sometimes stepping in for the finance manager during maternity or sick leaves—her passion lies in marketing. “While finance is all about clear numbers and predictability, marketing allows me to think outside the box, be creative, and work on something different every day.”
Maria’s connection to agriculture runs deep through her family. “My family has a greenhouse, and they have been working in agriculture for years. My grandfather also had a open fields where he used to grow all the fruit and vegetables that they ate in the house. I remember when I was a child, I used to go to the open field with my cousins and grandparents in the afternoon to pick up apples, lemons, and potatoes. So, I’ve been in contact with agriculture since I was a child.”
What is a common myth about your field of expertise?
“I think that in these last two years, people have been thinking of Hazera Spain as a company that innovates a lot and is always doing different things,” Maria shares. She recounted how their innovative approach has become their signature:
“Last year we did 3D billboards which we placed along the highway, and one girl saw the billboard, only seeing a flash of the Hazera logo. But she immediately asked me, ‘Is that 3D billboard from Hazera?’ When I said yes, she replied, ‘I knew it had to be from Hazera because it’s something very different, very innovative, and this is something only Hazera does.'”
Maria continues, “People always say we’re the only company doing very different activities. When we go to fairs, everybody likes to visit our stands because they know they’ll see something totally different compared with the rest of the companies. Marketing is very important, because it often is the first glimpse you get from the company.”
In your opinion, what is the most important personality trait someone should have to work in your industry?
Maria emphasises that “the secret of Hazera Spain is the team. When you enter the company, the feeling is that everybody is working, but if someone laughs, another laughs also. We try to have a very good environment.” She stresses the importance of connection in marketing work: “For social media, for different events, you need to have a good connection with people. Because even though we sell products, we’re a company that works for people. It’s very important to have a good positive attitude. Never say this is impossible. Especially in marketing, flexibility is crucial. If you can’t do something today, tomorrow you can.”
Tell us about a project you’re proud of and why.
“This year I’m very proud of the cinema campaign, and I am not only proud because of the result, but also because of the process,” Maria says enthusiastically. The ambitious project began when General Manager Manolo mentioned being at the cinema with his daughters and suggested doing something cinema-related. “We thought about this campaign in July of last year. We couldn’t tell anyone anything because if another company did something similar with cinema, the campaign would have been a total disaster.” The comprehensive campaign included a 15-minute film about the Heredero tomato variety, cinema advertisements for other varieties like ZiMMan, Nemeton, Pendragon, and Windsor, billboards designed like movie clapperboards, a Women’s Day cinema team-building event, and a premiere complete with red carpet. Despite challenges, including unexpected rain during filming in typically dry Almería, the campaign was a tremendous success. “This was Heredero’s first commercial year, and we sold all the seeds. Our marketing campaign had a result.”
What does “Hazera- Growing Together” mean to you?
For Maria, Growing Together represents collaboration at every level. “I do a lot of collaborations with influencers, and with other companies. I think the right way to grow is to collaborate because we can learn together. Also, Growing Together is reflected in our commitment to the clients— for example, this year we celebrated family days and invited people to the cinema to see our film. We don’t want to only involve the clients with Hazera, but like to involve their families as well. Because if the family is involved, they’ll have a good vision of Hazera and they are going to talk to other people about Hazera.”
Tell us something about yourself that most people do not know.
“The majority of people, external and sometimes internal, think that I studied marketing because I do everything related with marketing. But the reality is I studied finance and accounting,” Maria reveals with a smile. “Everything I learned was by myself. I did a lot of online courses, learning how to edit videos, how to create good social media planning. When I started in marketing it was like an obsession for me. I started following marketing companies, reading marketing books, and listening to marketing podcasts. While finance taught me precision, it’s marketing that allowed me to think beyond limits and write the story I’ve always wanted to tell.”
Do you want to stay connected with our Hazera people?
Follow us on our social media channels to stay connected with our Hazera people! If you have any questions left, don’t hesitate to ask them via our contact page!
