Rijk Zwaan is holding its Melon & Watermelon Event at its Experimentation and Development Center in La Palma (Murcia).
The company is showcasing its range of products at the event. This includes small sizes, such as the Minijack piel de sapo; the Ganimedes watermelon variety, which brings back the sweetness and firmness of traditional watermelon; its new Cherrinho pollinator; and complete production cycles all over the world, stated Bernardo Cuenca, Rijk Zwaan's melon and watermelon coordinator in EMEA.
© Lydia González | FreshPlaza.com
Nowadays, consumers want a complete experience. "They don't eat fruit just for nourishment. They are also looking for great taste and convenience. Constant quality and good productivity are also key. These are all factors we keep in mind when conducting our research," he added.
Exceptional flavor once again plays a key role in many varieties. "In piel de sapo, I would highlight the Mesura, Flechaverde, Ricura, and Minijack, small-sized varieties that have an above-average Brix level and great taste. We are also focused on improving Galia's taste, texture, and shelf life. In addition, we are working to recover the Charentais' aroma. Finally, even though yellow melon is considered a commodity, we are improving its bite."
"Asian melons stand out for their sweetness, which can reach 19º Brix. That's much sweeter than what people here expect from a melon. They might not see Asian melons as a daily fruit, but as a premium product."
"Each country has its preferences, but consumers everywhere want crunchy, juicy, sweet, affordable, easy-to-eat fruits. That's why we have developed the mini Candy Ball watermelon, which can be peeled like an apple."
Covering the entire crop cycle
Rijk Zwaan offers "a group of varieties of each watermelon and melon to cover the whole crop cycle. We understand that there is a large investment in marketing and that all kinds of costs must be amortized, so it is very positive to offer a range of varieties that allow us to work from Almeria to La Mancha."
Research must also take into account a rapidly changing climate scenario. To deal with this, Cuenca said, they work so that the plants are able to recover from biotic and abiotic stress and continue to bear fruits.
"Biotic diseases refer to fungi and bacteria, and abiotic issues refer to different types of stress, such as solar radiation, heat peaks in which the plant can't produce melon, torrential rain, drought, or intense winds." "We developed the defense line, which marks a protective boundary against biotic or abiotic agents. The Cyclope piel de sapo melon is the most resilient variety, as it has the greatest capacity to recover from stress," he stated.
Labor costs are a key factor that growers take into consideration when choosing seeds. "Charentais is a melon that has to be harvested every day or several times a day because it has a short shelf life and has to be consumed immediately. We have improved this high labor cost with Thorens, which can be cut every other day."
"Our Vaiana watermelon and Minijack piel de sapo melon have similar or even higher yields than the larger sizes, allowing growers to harvest many units in a single cut. Our goal is to reduce costs, input needs, labor, make harvesting easier, and reduce waste."
© Lydia González | FreshPlaza.com
For more information:
Bernardo Cuenca
EMEA Melon and Watermelon Coordinator
Rijk Zwaan
Tel: + 34 664 068 638
Email: [email protected]
www.rijkzwaan.es
