While the Australian melon industry’s 300 growers grow approximately 217,000 tonnes of mainly rockmelons, honeydew melons and watermelons on 8,500 hectares, Sydney-based fresh produce marketer, Perfection Fresh, has quietly introduced a new variety of melon into the mix – giving the industry the world’s only commercially available seedless, yellow-fleshed mini watermelon.

This month, Perfection Fresh is also sending an equally innovative red-fleshed partner for its yellow mini watermelon to market, with outlets being encouraged to sell the fruit in appealing pairs.

Developed from seeds of Asian origin bred in China, the yellow-fleshed mini watermelons are being made available in Australia following the acquisition of worldwide seed rights by boutique, Victoria-based seed distributor, Westranell Horticultural Solutions Pty Ltd. The red-fleshed mini watermelons are also being grown exclusively in Australia for Perfection Fresh from seeds developed in the United States.

Creatively dubbed “Mini Me® yellow seedless watermelon” and “Mini Me® red seedless watermelon” the new, regular-shaped, small-sized melons weigh between 2.5kg and 3kg. The yellow melon’s distinctively glossy, rich green skin contrasts strikingly with its deep yellow – rather than lemon – flesh, while the red melon’s pale, green-flecked skin makes it possible to distinguish between the red and yellow varieties at a glance.

“We came upon the yellow Mini Me® in China, which has one of the highest per capita consumption rates of melons anywhere in the world,” said Perfection Fresh supply chain manager, Suzanne Thornell.

“The Chinese tend to enjoy their melons as a palate cleanser at the end of a meal. They favour a high level of sweetness in their melons and are very selective about what they produce in seed. Of all the yellow fleshed melons, seed from China produces the highest level of reliable sweetness. It was an excellent choice for Australia.”

Ms Thornell said that while conventional seedless watermelons have sugar levels of between 11 per cent and 12 per cent, both the red and yellow Mini Me® seedless watermelons’ sugar levels run at between 12 per cent and 13 per cent. “Many other large-sized yellow watermelons run at about 10 per cent,” she said.

Both the Mini Me® yellow seedless and red watermelons are now being cultivated in partnership with Perfection Fresh growers in Bundaberg, Bowen and Gatton in Queensland, with further plantings planned for the Mildura region in Victoria. Ms Thornell said the Australian melon industry was currently “at a crossroads.”

“The industry recognizes fruit has not been meeting consumer expectations,” she said. “It’s irregular in quality when it hits the market. It doesn’t necessarily provide a good melon flavour with consistent sweetness. Consumers are getting melons with flesh that is either breaking down, or has a ‘soapy’ quality.”

Initial Mini Me® yellow seedless watermelon field trials were conducted in Ayr and Bundaberg, in Queensland early in 2003. Trial quantities of the melons were sent to market via the Sydney Markets in November and December, 2004, and in January this year.

“The Mini Me®’s rind is 1.5cm thick. The melons are very evenly sized. They can be grown with normal watermelons, and harvested like normal watermelons. They travel and store very well, which makes them very manageable at the cropping and harvest stage,” said Ms Thornell.

She said the Mini Me® yellow seedless watermelon would help Australians overcome their timidity in embracing yellow-coloured fruit and vegetables.

“The American market enjoys its yellow-coloured produce every bit as much as its red, purple, orange, or green produce! Avoiding yellow produce seems to be a distinctively Australian trait – one that the Mini Me® should help us overcome.”

Mini Me® yellow seedless and Mini Me® red seedless watermelons are available through selected Woolworths, Coles and independent retailers and will be sold at the premium end of the market.

When selecting Mini Me® seedless watermelons, look for a round melon without the triangular shape which usually indicates the fruit is hollow and of lower quality. Check that the ground spot (where the fruit came into contact with the ground) is yellow and not white - a yellow ground spot usually indicates the fruit has reached maturity. Look for fruit with a clean, even skin.

Store your Mini Me® seedless watermelons at room temperature, and in a refrigerator when cut.

Established in 1978, Perfection Fresh is headquartered at Homebush in Sydney, with distribution centres in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia. Serviced by 400 growers, the company supplies specialised vegetable lines and fruit lines including Broccolini™ baby broccoli, The Original™ grape tomato, The Original™ golden grape tomato, apples, pears, grapes, cherries, strawberries and all varieties of melons to premier food retailers, processors and distributors Australia-wide.

For further information and serving
suggestions please contact:

Ms Georgina Scott - Marketing Manager,
Perfection Fresh Australia Pty Ltd -
telephone (02) 9763 1877