This year, the fair was officially opened by the Councillor of Agriculture of Castile-La Macha, Luisa Soriano, who stressed the relevance that Ferimel has achieved for the melon sector in just three editions. After the inauguration, the Councillor was one of the first people to visit Syngenta's stand and be presented with their newest variety, Batidor, which is becoming a success as a result of its great quality and taste.
Batidor, which was introduced earlier this year in the municipality of Manzanares, Ciudad Real, under the name MP 3542 has already had its first commercial campaign with much better results than anticipated. Many producers at Ferimel had tested it and said to be very happy with the good results it has brought them this campaign.
Also many young people (producers, technicians and agronomy students) visited Syngenta's stand and confirmed both Batidor's qualities and the promising future of melon cultivation in Castile-La Mancha.
Batidor, a new success for Syngenta's R&D
Syngenta, a leader in both the Spanish and European melon sectors, has had a renowned range of Piel de Sapo melons for years, with varieties like Sancho, Ibérico, Mendoza, Hilario or Velasco.
Batidor is a variety for transplant during the month of May, offering a balanced fruit settling and medium to large calibres. It stands out for its large production capacity and its high level of resistance to powdery mildew and Fusarium and average resistance to Aphix gossypi.
It offers homogeneous fruit sizes and higher yields, as the percentage of fruit suitable for commercial purposes in 25% higher than the average of other varieties. Moreover, this variety is noted for its good post-harvest qualities and exceptional flavour (higher Brix, ideal texture and juiciness) as well as a high degree of firmness, which is maintained over time.
Besides Batidor, Syngenta's full Piel de Sapo range was exhibited at Ferimel, beginning with early varieties such as Hilario and Velasco, along with the Sancho, the sector's flagship since 1995 which remains leader because of its quality, productivity and unique flavour. Batidor will arrive after the Sancho, still in mid-season, and for late crops, the most famous is the Ibérico, with high commercial yield, and the Mendoza, which retains its sweetness in late harvests.
