Breeder Rijk Zwann has released a new orange-fleshed melon range under the umbrella brand Caribbean.
During a series of Caribbean days held in Montova, a melon-growing area in northern Italy, around 100 growers, importers, vegetable and fruit processors and supermarket representatives gathered to assess the new varieties.
The new melon range adds value for growers with its high yield and plant characteristics, according to Rijk Zwann, and its longer shelf life and high brix level - about two brix higher than standard cantaloupe melons.
Rob Liston, technical director at Keelings UK, said: “The market for ready-cut fruit in fresh fruit salads is growing fast in the UK. Internal quality is highly important for the pre-cut segment. So the focus is not just on brix and quantity; colour and fruit texture are also looked at carefully.
“Caribbean Gold meets these wishes, and its flavour is simply excellent. We do have to watch out in the future, though, that the varieties for whole and processed melons are not going to be too different from each other. Consumers want to be given uniform fruit that tastes the same. Otherwise, there will be total confusion.”
Fred Rennen, Hispafruit commercial director, said: “Quality is one very important criterion for today’s consumer. Consumers are regularly disappointed with products that do not come up to their expectations. This has an enormous impact, especially on melons, as they are not routinely put on the shopping list, but bought for special occasions. With new varieties like Caribbean Gold and Caribbean Giorgio, we think we can convince consumers we have a special product.”
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