WOODLAND, CA - Shoppers will soon see more IDEAL melons in their stores as Syngenta Vegetable Seeds recently announced the widespread availability of seed varieties to growers in Central America and the United States.
“We know there have been challenges that impacted not only growers, but consumers’ perceptions of this cantaloupe melon segment,” said Bernie Hamel, Value Added Chain Lead. “With new IDEAL melons, we’re addressing those market challenges to create consistent and flavorful melons that growers and consumers can rely on and love.”
With Syngenta Vegetable Seeds’ newest innovation, IDEAL melons, consumers will experience a portfolio that delivers consistently flavorful, aromatic, and fresh melons all year round, noted the release. Retailers can now secure their melon demand to provide customers with IDEAL flavor, aromatics, and freshness, even in the dead of winter.
Aesthetically pleasing, superior-colored, convenient, and flexible, IDEAL melons can be sold as whole melons, sliced, diced, and balled for deli and convenience SKUs. To achieve this, Syngenta has invented a patent-pending Harvest Indicator Trait to tell when IDEAL melons are ready by looking at the rind. It changes color indicating when it’s the ideal time to harvest from the field, allowing the fruit to stay on the stem up to 48 hours longer than like segments. And their color change continues even post-harvest signaling the ideal time to arrive at distribution centers and the ideal time to stock grocery store shelves. Produce managers won’t have to wonder if the melons are ripe and ready, eliminating the guess work and reducing waste and spoilage.
Bridging the domestic melon winter production gap, these varieties are harvested with a patent-pending IDEAL Melon Harvest Indicator Trait and will be sourced from Central America; the remainder of the year’s consumer demand can be grown throughout the United States with the other IDEAL melon varieties.
As a proud sponsor of the 2022 International Fresh Produce Association’s (IFPA) Global Produce & Floral Show, seek out the Syngenta team at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC). Attendees can try out Syngenta’s featured Cantaloupe & Grilled Radicchio Salad created by famed Chef James Katurakes, Centerplate, and enjoy our IDEAL melons. The company will be showcasing its IDEAL melons at the Networking Lunch on October 27 at noon.
Syngenta will also be giving the industry a first look at iStem™, the company’s first edible stem cauliflower. iStem is high-yielding for growers but also appeals to consumers because it is good to eat in its entirety, creating no food waste, and has sweet, nutty curds on top of tender, succulent stems.
Additionally, this year’s attendees will also get a look at the company’s YOOM® tomatoes at its partners’ booths, Nature Fresh Farms at booth #4189 and Windset Farms at booth #5043.
A plethora of innovations is in store! Stay tuned to ANUK as we continue to cover the latest.
