An expanded array of new melon varieties will soon be the choice for shoppers in Australian and New Zealand supermarkets as a new generation of Seminis brand melon varieties enter production. According to Seminis, the new varieties are “set to breathe life into the melon category.
Red-flesh Charentais, Italian-types, and yellow skin Amarillo types with orange flesh are some of the features consumers can expect to see on shelves over the coming 12 months. The company says flavour is not lacking, claiming new products bring excellent taste and eating quality.
Monsanto Vegetable Seeds general manager, Ben Hoodless, says he is excited to see many years of hard work result in so many promising varieties.
“Through our Seminis vegetable seed brand, we have been hard at work listening to retailers, consumers and of course, our loyal growers, to understand what makes a great melon. We believe that with our new product offerings we have something for everyone and an opportunity to reinvigorate a great category.
“There is great depth in our new melon seed portfolio allowing growers, marketers and retailers an opportunity to differentiate themselves in the market with something new.
“Flavour has absolutely been missing and we now have several varieties that will take consumers back to the good old days of how melons used to taste. Flavour Journey, our white-skin green-flesh honeydew, for example, is an absolute winner on the taste front,” Hoodless says.
Currently, there is excitement around a variety marketed as Orange Candy, which are available in selected stores. The variety features smooth, yellow skin and a scented orange flesh. Its smooth skin has added health and safety benefits, reducing the risk of listeria contamination during processing.
“Orange Candy is a real game changer,” says Hoodless. “It could be a substitute for rockmelons. … I was at a South Melbourne market recently and the green grocer was raving about how good the variety is. He didn’t know who I was which was a great endorsement,” he adds.
The Orange Candy variety is currently grown exclusively by Rapisarda Melons and marketed by Lind and Sons.
