SALINAS, CA - Enza Zaden and Sprouts Farmers Market have announced a new retail partnership to bring Moon & Stars, an innovative seedless watermelon, to market for the 2026 season. The Sugar Baby type melon combines distinctive shelf appeal with consistent performance from field to consumer. Moon & Stars will be available exclusively at more than 480 Sprouts Farmers Market locations in 25 states from May through early September, while supplies last.
“At Sprouts, our commitment to high‑quality, differentiated produce is at the core of how we bring discovery to life for our customers. Moon & Stars watermelon is a perfect example – each one is visually unique, delivering a sense of surprise and delight in the produce department, while maintaining the exceptional eating quality our customers expect,” said Meghan Diaz, Senior Director of Produce at Sprouts, in the recent release. “We’re proud to introduce this exclusive variety as part of our ongoing investment in innovation, creating new ways for customers to explore, enjoy, and reconnect with fresh, seasonal produce.”
The new seedless watermelon features a dark green rind speckled with bright yellow “stars” for a unique galaxy-type pattern. With each fruit carrying its own variation of those markings, 45-count crate displays in Sprouts’ retail stores will immediately catch the eye of consumers. Once in customer homes, Moon & Stars will deliver a reliable eating experience, with deep red flesh, crisp texture, and distinctive sweet taste. In blind consumer testing across five leading watermelon varieties, Moon & Stars ranked highest for both overall preference and taste experience, supporting potential for repeat purchase and category growth.
“This program was built with the end shopper in mind, combining strong field performance with a distinctive seedless watermelon that delivers consistent eating quality. Sprouts is the ideal partner to introduce Moon & Stars, given their focus on innovation, quality, and differentiation in fresh, seasonal produce,” said Justin Lanier, US Commercial Director, Enza Zaden.
From a production standpoint, Starship, the Enza Zaden variety behind Moon & Stars, has delivered consistently strong results over two seasons of commercial trials across multiple growing regions in the U.S. Growers report vigorous plants, good yield potential, and dependable fruit quality through harvest and distribution.
At retail, Moon & Stars introduces a new visual dynamic to the watermelon category. Its rind pattern sets it apart from the striped or solid dark green rind types that consumers are accustomed to, with each melon displaying a unique galaxy-type pattern. This natural variation creates an engaging consumer selection experience, while consistent internal quality ensures confidence after purchase.
“Our focus is on developing varieties that bring value across the chain, and we’re pleased to partner with Sprouts on this heirloom-inspired seedless watermelon, which combines strong agronomic performance with traits that resonate with consumers,” said Adrian Garcia Scott, Enza Zaden Marketing Manager, US and Canada.
For more information on Sprouts and to find the nearest location, visit Sprouts.com.
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Enza Zaden
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