New flavour-filled varieties were harvested two weeks early this season thanks to good weather
Ideal growing conditions throughout spring and early summer have pushed up the watermelon harvest schedule for Leaderbrand in Gisborne, New Zealand.
Gordon McPhail, general manager of farming, said that watermelons thrive in hot and sunny weather, and Gisborne had delivered in abundance this season. The melons, planted in early August 2024, were ready for harvest two weeks ahead of schedule, which was a first for the company.
“We’re delighted to have our Leaderbrand watermelons hit the stores ahead of schedule this year. That means more Kiwis will be enjoying more melons for longer this summer,” he said.
Leaderbrand trials new melon varieties every year to determine if there are potential areas for improvement. This season, McPhail said the company has some promising new varieties in commercial supply including melons full of flavour.
“It’s all about ensuring we’re selecting the right varieties for our conditions. We are constantly trialing different seeds for taste, size and what’s best suited for our environment,” he said.
“For us, it’s all about taste because everyone loves a good watermelon. We are constantly cutting open the melons to check the colour, taste and size throughout the growing stage.”
McPhail said watermelons require strict production processes to maintain quality throughout the entire supply chain.
“Preparation and planting in the right soils and location, harvesting by hand and selecting based on ideal maturity, treating the melons right post-harvest. It’s part of the reason melons are one of our more challenging crops but that’s what makes them so much fun to grow,” he said.
“Once we harvest the melons, they are treated like red gold. Each one is gently handpicked when ripe and then by hand, brushed, washed, dried, graded and packed, all floating through water to ensure they emerge undamaged. “
Carmel Ireland from 5 + A Day said that watermelon is an easy way to add one more piece of fruit into your day as they are delicious and perfect for a sunny day.
“Eating a rainbow of colours is important for a healthy diet,” she said. “Summer is an easy time to increase your variety of fruit and vegetables, especially watermelon, which is always a crowd pleaser. Watermelon is a source of potassium and Vitamin C.”
