My name is Philip (Phil) Stoffyn, and my passion for tomatoes started with my first job growing greenhouse vegetables over 20 years ago.

In a high-tech greenhouse just outside my hometown (close to the Tomato Capital of Canada), I grew a number of specialty tomatoes, including Cocktails, Romas, and grape (mini Roma) types. I learned the ins and outs of growing tomatoes, including how to “read” the plant and understand how “steering” a plant can affect more than just growth. It was essential to learn what tools you had in the greenhouse to work with and how they impacted the behavior, flavor, and yield of the plant. I fell in love with walking the rows of the plants each day, feeling the texture of the leaves, and tasting the fruit as I walked along, developing an understanding for the complexity of what it means to have a desired flavor profile in a tomato.

I caught on quickly and eventually joined a small seed company as their salesperson for the high-tech greenhouse industry in Canada and the United States. Their focus was on the greenhouse tomato market. It was there that I worked with tomato breeders for the first time and really had the opportunity to understand what it took to make a good variety. It was at that point that my respect for vegetable breeding companies really emerged. My passion for tomatoes grew stronger, and I wanted to share the knowledge I had gained with other growers so they could experience the joy I found in this crop.

I found supporting growers with their crops rewarding, and it was not just about selling a seed but creating success for the grower using your variety. Meanwhile, understanding the market, the customer’s needs, and limitations helped in selecting new varieties to develop.
I eventually worked with other international seed companies, working in many different crops such as peppers, cucumbers, and lettuce, in sales and product development roles, but my love for tomatoes never faded. Over these many years, I have learned the profile of what the NAFTA high-tech tomato market needs to be successful. With this knowledge and experience, I am confident that Hazera has what it takes to be a major player in this tomato market.

With the development of “Tomatoes that Work for You” and varieties such as Pendragon and Windsor, Hazera is offering varieties that provide new and exciting benefits not only for the grower but for the retailer as well. Creating longer shelf life means reduced shrinkage for retailers, and labor savings in harvesting means more money in the grower’s pocket. I look forward to working with the growers and marketers to show them this promising perspective of creating a winning assortment for both the grower and Hazera, and enhancing the industry together.

Would you like to learn more about Phil or our tomatoes? Contact us!