Gaining a foothold in the melon market and meeting the needs of professional producers is a great challenge for Enza Zaden, which is achieving this with a range of melons developed with two fundamental characteristics: flavour and resistance.
"We develop melon varieties designed for each client and for each production area. The good thing about a family business like Enza Zaden is that we are able to develop a customised product for any client, giving them a more personalised service," says Genci Armero, Sales Manager for Spain, Portugal and Morocco at Enza Zaden.
The melon specialist predicts growth in this segment for Enza Zaden. "We have a young team with a great desire to work, enthusiastic and passionate about what it is doing, as well as a very good communication between specialists in all relevant areas, not just in Spain, but also in France, Portugal and Morocco. It is true that competition in this sector is fierce, but I think that is precisely what makes us all better. I sincerely believe that there is room for everyone in this market," he says.
Galia melons you can easily harvest at the right moment
Enza Zaden has developed a program devoted to Galia melons for export for all harvest periods. Their biggest advantage is that the fruit turns from yellow to orange yellow, making it easy to harvest them at the right time. "We also have two varieties for the same harvest period with different characteristics, depending on the producer's needs. There are growers who need more vigorous varieties, because the soils are not very good. Other customers look for a product with a great flavour, even if the yields are lower," explains Genci Armero.
In the export melon segment, the most noteworthy are the early Causal and the late Tribal.
The company is also working on a line of traditional Galia melons, which turn from green to yellow and have some extra flavour. "We are developing these melons to meet the demand of customers who sell under premium brands for gourmet markets. For these, the Albal variety ensures great value. We want to adapt to the needs not only of those who are looking for greater productivity, but also of those who seek a more unique product," he says.
Enza Zaden has developed the Estelar variety for Almeria this year. "Until now, many customers refused to buy melons from Almeria due to their lack of flavour. This is due to the fact that the way of harvesting it is very different to that in other production areas, since it is not a priority crop and there only one harvest. With our new selections, melons have a hard flesh, which extends their shelf life, but they also have a better flavour and a higher Brix."
New yellow melon resistant to powdery mildew and aphids
Until now, Enza Zaden had one commercial variety of Nautilo yellow melon; an early variety. This year, they are launching a new variety that does not yet have a commercial name and which is a great step forward for producers, since it is resistant to powdery mildew and aphids.
"Yellow melons are a commodity in some markets and are often used by large retailers as a product to attract customers, due to their lower prices. For this reason, growers seek to prevent any problems with pests, aiming for large production volumes, so that prices can be profitable. Moreover, the countries to which they are shipped, mainly Germany, have the strictest requirements in terms of chemical residues and the use of pesticides. The production almost needs to be organic."
Cantaloupe, Charentais and Chaloupe
In its Vitalis line, Enza Zaden has Cantaloupe and Charentais melons resistant to aphids for all areas of Spain, Morocco, Portugal and France, both for conventional and organic cultivation. This year, they are launching the Kadenza variety for late transplants, with a traditional Charentais flavour and a long shelf life. "We have a division dedicated specifically to improving the shelf life of melons," says Genci Armero.
Also, within its orange-fleshed melon range, Enza Zaden is betting on the Chaloupe concept. This a premium product somewhere in between the Charentais and the Cantaloupe, and with an expanding commercial program. "It does not suffer the shelf life issues of a Charentais, but it has its striking cream colour, while lasting as long as a Cantaloupe."
With the Piel de Sapo, it is all about the flavour
The priority for Enza Zaden in the Piel de Sapo segment is very clear. "The variety is traditionally consumed in Spain, where we are very demanding when it comes to taste. The most important thing is for consumers to come back for more, so it is necessary to focus most of our efforts on taste, and then on resistance to diseases and shelf life," explains Genci Armero.
For Murcia, they have the Osorio for medium transplants, which will be complemented with the Olmos, a new variety resistant to powdery mildew and aphids. For growers in Castile-La Mancha, the Arenales is already a flagship variety, and now they are launching the Almaden, resistant to powdery mildew and aphids.
"In Murcia, we are introducing a new Piel de Sapo variety that is yielding very good results. The E25P00467, which would close the cycle with early transplants, will be presented at the next Melon House Fair."
Open days
From 3 to 6 July, Enza Zaden will hold the Melon House Fair 2018, during which it will showcase its new launches and solutions for producers and marketers. Producers demand high yields and marketers want taste and a good shelf life. "We believe that, with our melon programs, we can meet both needs," says Genci Armero.
For more information:
Beatriz López Reyes
Enza Zaden Spain
+34 950 58 33 88
b.lopez@enzazaden.es
www.enzazaden.es