“In response to rising demand for long shelf life cantaloupe seeds, we have increased our production”, says Marc Beoshanz with HM Clause. The company’s popular FIJI cantaloupe variety entered the market place three years ago in an effort to launch a melon product with a long shelf life. In general, mainstream use of long shelf life melons began roughly five years ago.
Improved shipping ability
The US is a significant melon producer, but during its off-season - from October until June – melons are imported from Mexico and Central America. “Traditional melons don’t have the best shipping ability, which really affects the quality of imported product”, said Beoshanz. “They ripen too quickly during transportation.” HM Clause developed the FIJI variety that doesn’t contain as much ethylene as a regular melon, slowing down the ripening process. “This also benefits domestically grown melons that are shipped across the United States. Shippers are benefiting from a lower amount of rejections with the FIJI variety”, commented Beoshanz. “In addition to improving the quality of shipped product, this variety has resulted in significant cost savings from a harvest perspective.” Given that this variety doesn’t ripen as quickly, growers are able to leave it in the field longer. As a result, they don’t have to go through the field as often anymore to harvest all melons. The extended field holding capability of FIJI does not interfere with its eating quality. “With high brix and dark orange flesh, this melon offers what the consumer is looking for,” added Beoshanz.
Increased sales despite smaller acreage
California is the largest melon producing state in the nation. Despite some Central Valley growers cutting back on melon acreage due to the drought, HM Clause experiences an increase in sales of the FIJI variety. Melon acreage has dropped about 20 percent in the Central Valley, but at the same time Fiji melons are gaining popularity. “They are taking up an increasingly larger part of the total melon pie”, mentioned Beoshanz.
The FIJI variety is HM Clause’s first large-scale commercial success of a melon product with a long shelf life. However, HM Clause continuously looks to improve and innovate. In the next three to five years, the company expects to launch companion products to FIJI that will extend the planting and harvest windows of the long shelf life melon type and at the same time continue to offer high quality to the consumer.For more information on FIJI, please visit www.escapetoflavor.com. Click here for the company’s press release on the increased availability of FIJI melon seeds.
For more information:
Marc Beoshanz
HM Clause
Tel: (+1) 530-308-6769