Seed-breeder Nunhems has unveiled a new watermelon, Bengala F1.
Some 150 growers attended Nunhems España’s open day on 15 May to see the new product in production along with other Nunhems novelties Style F1 and Ivona F1.
Growers visited three farms in Almeria to see the new plants and their fruit.
Mercedes Fernández Lozano, Nunhems melon and watermelon specialist said: “Bengala F1 is an early white seedless watermelon with good Brix levels that is ready for harvest a week earlier than other varieties. In theory this means that it should be a more profitable melon for growers.”
Another advantage is that the majority of sizes are 4s and 5s, which should help cut handling and packing time.
Fernández Lozano added: “It is also a very attractive variety at retail level on shelf as the stripes on its skin are very well defined and stand out against their background. It is a variety that will attract consumer attention and really looks fresh.” Its flesh is also a very intense red and has a crunchy texture inside its thin skin.
Meanwhile, Style F1 and Ivona F1 are dark seedless varieties similar to Bengala in terms of their flesh colour and also the homogeneity of their sizing. “Both varieties have dark skin and consistent post-harvest performance,” Fernández Lozano said.
Ivona F1 packs out in 2s and 3s while Style F1 has the same sizing as Bengala - 4s and 5s.
White seedless types such as Bengala are targeted at the Spanish and export markets and although dark types started off targeted at the domestic market, marketers have also been growing exports.
