Melon 1, Inc. & Syngenta Vegetable Seeds Produce A Fresh Experience Together

Brooklyn, NY – Melon 1, Inc. has formed a relationship with Syngenta to grow and distribute firm flesh varieties of seedless watermelon, including Crisp Delight and Crisp Desire. These new varieties have increased flesh firmness compared to a traditional seedless watermelon. Syngenta has developed these varieties specifically for the fresh cut market, and therefore these watermelons retain more of their juice as opposed to having excessive post processing liquid loss.

Melon 1 has already established relationships with some large national US processors, and Crisp Delight watermelons are currently being shipped throughout the Eastern United States. To keep up with the initial supply demands, Melon 1 has Crisp Delight and Crisp Desire planted in their farms along the East Coast from Florida to Delaware, as far west as Kentucky, and as far south as Central America.

Rich Chastain, partner at Melon 1 said, “We’ve had great success already with growing these firm flesh varieties in the U.S. and in Central America. However, we know the potential that this fruit has for the fresh cut market, so we have plans to continue to expand our presence in that market, and the presence of Crisp Delight and Crisp Desire.”

By the end of 2017, Melon 1 will have planted and harvested increased acres of these firm flesh Syngenta varieties. They have a constant production of Crisp Delight and Crisp Desire, and have been raising their acreage every year for the past 3 years. By percentage, fresh cut melons are the fastest growing segment in most produce departments across the country. This is keeping Melon 1 and Syngenta busy, and together they are actively trialing new firm flesh varieties that are not available commercially yet, including a yellow firm flesh variety. Melon 1 knows the demand is there, and they have been sampling these new products at PMA and SEPC over the past 12 months.

Today, Melon 1 and Syngenta have an agreement to grow and distribute these new varieties which are making a large impact amongst processors, retailers and consumers.

Melon 1, Inc. is one of the nation’s largest and oldest watermelon grower and shippers. The Melon 1 team has been growing, packing and shipping watermelons collectively for over 30 years. Melon 1 specializes in a superior product which is shipped year-round from one of over 20 packing sheds on the East Coast of the U.S. They supply watermelons to the Northeast, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Mid-West. To learn more visit www.melon1.com.

Syngenta is a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources. Through world class science and innovative crop solutions, its 28,000 people in over 90 countries are working to transform how crops are grown. Syngenta is committed to rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities. To learn more visit www.syngenta.com.

Source: Melon 1