After three years of planning Dutch group Levarht is now planting tomatoes in China, through a project with Beijing HongFu International Agriculture that is expected to yield the first crop in February. 

The first tomatoes were planted this week in the group's Dutch style glasshouse in Beijing's Daxing district, using "the best Dutch technology and selecting the best varieties".

The team will be working hard over the coming days to put 180,000 plants in place, which in a few months' time will produce the project's first cherry, beef and vine tomatoes.

"This is really a great day for all our colleagues and partners, who invested so much time and energy into this first project," said grower Geert Leffers.

"We can all be very proud of what we have achieved."

Beijing Hongfu managing director Li Zhaoyang said this was the beginning of an ambitious plan, with the first plantings marking an important step towards further growth.

The two companies said their partnership was about setting new standards in China, particularly in biological crop protection, food safety and varietal selection.

Concept branding is also a key part of the initiative and a scheme has been developed with partners in retail, online and in the processing industry.

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