With some highly consolidated varieties in La Mancha, Sakata’s new challenges in piel de sapo are centred on the Region of Murcia
Joaquín Navarro, Produce Manager for the company explained to Fruit Today that “once the internal quality of our piel de sapo melon has been consolidated, this year we will focus on improving its outer appearance: better lengthwise grooves, colour, homogeneity in shapes, etc.”
The two varieties promoted by Sakata this year for the Campo de Cartagena are: Grand Infinity, a melon both for greenhouse and for extra-early regions in the open air. It is characterised by its delicious flavour at dates when it is complicated to obtain this. The fruit is harvested approximately from the 15th of May to the 15th of June.
The second one is the flagship of the company in Murcia: Grand Rivero. It is harvested at the end of June or during the first fortnight of July. It is an interesting variety for farmers due to its production and to the plant’s resistance to mildew. Its outer appearance (golden colour with lengthwise, uniform grooves) and inner appearance (smoother flesh, with the flavour of a traditional melon) is also attractive for the market. It is a melon with an important range for adaptation, both for stores selling brand name melons and for supermarket chains.
Regarding the upheavals that melon production has suffered in recent years, where watermelons have gained ground, leaving melons in their wake, Navarro suggests that “there is a series of trade interests that put pressure on farmers, but they should refuse to harvest if the produce is not in the best possible conditions. The truth is, I believe that there aren’t any bad varieties, just ones that we turn into bad ones by not handling them correctly.”
“However, the personal feeling I have this year is that the mentality has changed and improved quality has been obtained to increase the demand and I would even dare to say that the supermarkets have taken steps on this point”.
The company’s new piel de sapo materials will focus on increasing the market share over the next few years in the fields of Murcia, since the varieties Cordial, Don Quixote and Grand Riado have already been consolidated in the fields of La Mancha.
