24 maaliskuuta 2026 News
At Enza Zaden, we feel fortunate to work alongside growers who inspire us every season. One of them is Prinsen, a fourth generation family company based in Finland with a strong tradition in high tech greenhouse production.
What once began with tomato seedlings has grown into a modern, year round facility producing tomatoes and, since 2006, cucumbers.
This year, during their 41 week production cycle, their dedication led to something remarkable: a new production record of 256 kg per m², achieved in the 2025 season, surpassing their previous best of 244 kg per m², reached in 2024. The team describes it simply: “Every day needs to be a good day.” Behind those words lies discipline, precision and a deep passion for growing.
Growing cucumbers under northern European conditions is anything but easy. Prinsen works through long dark winters, low natural daylight and the need for very precise climate control. Their greenhouse uses lighting levels up to 600 micromol, strong dehumidification and careful steering to keep the crop balanced throughout the season.
We admire how they manage these challenges day after day, and we see how their efforts help our varieties reach their full potential.
We are proud that Prinsen achieved their record with three plantings of Dee Velope, a variety they describe as stable, balanced and reliable with very low fruit abortion. Their previous record was also achieved with one of our varieties, Kyra. Seeing two record seasons supported by our genetics is something we appreciate deeply.
Alongside Dee Velope, Prinsen also trialed E23L.2538, which had a potential record as well. They valued its strong crop, virus tolerance and beautiful fruits. With slightly adjusted temperatures, they expect even more potential from this variety.
Prinsen aims to maintain this high performance level, although pushing production even further will be difficult due to the intensity of northern conditions. They are looking for varieties that can handle this pressure, and we expect that E23L.2538 will support them in the coming years.
Feedback from growers like Prinsen guides our breeding work. It helps us understand the realities of the greenhouse and strengthens our commitment to developing stable and resilient varieties for demanding climates.
While the record belongs fully to Prinsen, we are grateful that our varieties Kyra, Dee Velope and E23L.2538 could play a part in their success. We value their openness, their honesty and their willingness to work closely with us. For many years, we have teamed up through second‑screening tests, joint product development and frequent collaboration, which has strengthened our partnership and deepened our understanding of their production needs.
Together with growers like Prinsen, we continue our mission to support strong and reliable cucumber production in the Nordics and beyond.
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