New products continue to be presented by the melon and watermelon sector of Campo de Cartagena, in Murcia, Spain. Seed companies are striving to develop fruits with a greater resistance to diseases and pests, which remain tasty and, of course, as profitable as possible.
In the Spanish market, seedless black watermelon continues to be the consumer's favorite. Within this category, Genci Armero, sales manager for melon, watermelon, and pumpkin, mentions the Saniara variety, which has already been "very well-received in Spain." As far as smaller-sized watermelons are concerned, she highlights "the success of Tyrion, which has been especially designed for households with fewer members or people living alone, offering practicality without sacrificing flavor."
© Lydia González | FreshPlaza.com
Internationally, "especially in the United States, preferences are moving towards the Crimson type watermelon, also seedless and with a larger size. In this segment, a leading variety is the Cracker Jack, widely grown and appreciated for its size and quality," says Armero.
A step beyond the ultra-firm variety
The Cracker Jack owes its success "not only to its intense flavor and flesh color, but also to its amazing post-harvest qualities, both for fresh consumption and for processing." According to Armero, they decided to "conduct a study with an external company simulating the slicing conditions, etc., and the results were compared with those of other market standards. The conclusion was that Cracker Jack is the consumer's favorite and is also highly suitable for processing, thus making it a good choice for both industry and the fresh market."
According to the manager, the variety "stands out in terms of flavor and firmness, and it meets the needs of the processing sector. We are thus going a step further than we did with the ultra-firm variety, which was only suitable for the industry. For us, it is important to provide solutions for growers and make it easier for them to have two ways of marketing their products. If there is any incident preventing it from being sent for processing, the grower would lose the crop. That's why it's so good that this watermelon is also suitable for fresh consumption."
"It's a good opportunity to test the unique qualities of our product, such as its thicker rind and its size, with a weight of around 6 kg; features which are bound to please Spanish consumers, thus opening up new possibilities in the market," says the manager.
As far as organoleptic conditions are concerned, Armero says that Enza Zaden is working on a portfolio that "not only focuses on yield and flavor, but also aims to provide solutions to production challenges such as, for example, climate change and extreme temperatures." Armero says that "its thick rind not only makes it easier to harvest and minimizes losses due to damages caused by non-professional labor, but it also makes it ideal for cultivation in the extreme climates of La Mancha or western Andalusia, because it can better withstand the stifling heat."
Camacho, Campuzano, and Corrales, a traditional range
Besides the good results achieved with watermelon, "our flagship product is the Piel de Sapo melon. We have production in various countries and are able to supply it year-round. Our varieties stand out for their flavor and attractive appearance, with a dark skin and marked netting that makes them easily recognizable. Furthermore, all our melons are resistant to powdery mildew and aphids," says Armero, adding that "the latter is a common threat in all countries, especially now that the use of phytosanitary products is more restricted and high temperatures facilitate their spread."
© Lydia González | FreshPlaza.com
As far as the range of sizes is concerned, the manager says that "they vary depending on the date of transplanting, but the flavor is always that of an authentic Piel de Sapo. Growers start with the Camacho, then move on to the Campuzano, and finish with the Corrales, which is the mainstay of this category. We aim for 3.5 kg varieties, but the melons can be harvested in smaller or larger sizes by playing with these transplanting dates."
The Corrales is the favorite among growers because, according to Armero, "it makes it possible to produce in different countries while maintaining the same consistency." Another flagship product is the Ambarino yellow melon, "Which can be grown in Central America or Spain. The Ambatar is also very popular in Italy because it has a rougher rind and good post-harvest qualities."
In the Galia category, Armero highlights the Maioral variety for its high productivity. "As for the Cantaloupe, we have the Konquista, which has good post-harvest qualities and allows overseas production. The Orangelopu also stands out for its excellent flavor and post-harvest."
To facilitate dealing with the harvesting costs of the Charentais, "we offer the Bodelice, Volupta or Makeba, which offer greater flexibility in the harvesting, as well as good resistance to aphids," says the manager.
For more information:
Genci Armero
Enza Zaden
Tel.: +34 950 58 33 88
[email protected]
www.enzazaden.es
