<p style="text-indent:0px; line-height:12px;"><span style="font-weight:bold;line-height:130%">Morgan Hill, CA</span><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">By Jordan Okumura<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">04.23.13</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Sakata Seed America is gearing up for the company's Watermelon Field Trials In Texas and Georgia this coming May and June. Growers and other industry members will have the opportunity to compare Sakata watermelons side-by-side with competitive varieties while learning about the benefits of the company's diverse program, including early varieties.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> <img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/hl_sakata_apr_2013_body00.jpg" alt="images042213" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">In addition, attendees will be able to visit with product managers, sales and R&D staff.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Watermelon product manager, Gattis Guffey, tells AndNowUknow how Sakata’s Early Watermelon Varieties can Benefit the Grower, "Sakata’s Citation and Bold Ruler offer the grower earliness (and good cold-setting) which means growers can take advantage of the early-market price while others are waiting to harvest later-maturing varieties. Plus, the benefits of a shorter crop time means fewer sprays, less fertilizer, less irrigation and less exposure to weather risks." He continues, "In times of water shortage – early genetics are definitely a real advantage. Growers can get them in and out fast and conserve water for other crops.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/hl_sakata_apr_2013_body01.jpg" alt="images042213" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">"Another interesting opportunity for growers is that many consumers are moving towards a smaller watermelon, like Citation - a true 60-count," Guffey explains, “Consumers are asking retailers for watermelons that are more family-sized and fit more easily into their refrigerators. Historically, growers haven’t been able to make the yields they need with a smaller watermelon. But, the grower and consumer are in luck today as Citation watermelon sets more fruit per plant than older varieties, allowing growers to yield quantities equivalent to 45-count varieties.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>If the market continues to evolve towards a smaller watermelon, Sakata will be able to continue to develop new varieties that allow growers to meet this emerging consumer trend.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The Texas Watermelon Trials will take place April 30 through May 3 in Edinburg, Texas with the Georgia Watermelon Trials kicking off June 17 through June 21 in Tifton, Georgia. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.sakatavegetables.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/calendar.main/index.htm" target="_new"> Sakata Seed America </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
