Ramiro Arnedo has doubled the surface area of Mirambel F1 and Valentín F1 in their first business year
In 2017 Ramiro Arnedo presented its first piel de sapo melon for growing under glass, and this year it has taken off, going from 100 hectares in the pre-commercial trials to doubling this surface area for commercial growing. We are talking about Valentín F1 and Mirambel F1, both with robust plants, good setting capacity and with significant grooves, a very important factor in the piel de sapo category. Agronomically speaking “they behave well in the fields; they endure well and do not show cracking problems. They are also resistant to powdery mildew,” explains Jorge Bervel, a commercial technician from the company. The fruit has a good internal appearance, “they don’t stay green and they turn golden when they reach the ideal Brix levels for cutting.” Internally, they offer a smooth texture, with a touch of resilience, whilst remaining juicy.
What is the difference between these materials? On the one hand, the transplanting dates, which allow Almeria’s commercial cycle to be juggled. Valentín F1 is the earliest variety; it is planted from mid-January to the beginning of March and Mirambel F1 which is transplanted from the end of February to the 10th of April. The other difference lies in the sizes: they range between 2.5 and 3.5 kg, with Valentín being slightly larger.
Well-renowned for their pepper varieties, the company offers a wide selection of produce, ranging from artichokes to carrots, passing through pumpkins or onions, amongst others. A large part of its invoicing (over 20% of the total) is used for research. “Once the dietary needs have been covered, consumers want to have fun with food. And therefore, we are researching different flavours, colours and textures,” says Henry Smienk, Marketing Manager. At the same time, they are attempting to find solutions for producers and for the distribution. “In melons, for example, we are working with materials that are resistant to New Delhi, although at present we are still seeing how this resistance works in the fields.”
