Nunhems has some important new developments in watermelons for export and for the ‘eco’ market
Last May, the brand Nunhems® presented the latest new developments from its watermelon range at the Business Event for Experts held in El Ejido. Some varieties that are focused on the export market, that is to say, with smaller sizes that also adapt to the demands made by ecological consumers (between 1.5-2 kg), maintaining excellent internal quality in flavour, texture and a deep red colour.
Juan Sastre, Watermelon Sales Manager for EMEA, elaborated to Fruit Today some of the characteristics of the pollinator NUN 11603 WMW F1, a Premium type striped watermelon with micro-seeds that has become the ‘star’ of its new incorporations. “It is a one person fruit, and it is being positioned in the eco and monoculture segment precisely due to its smaller size”. Ideal both under glass and in polytunnels, its plant adapts to denser plantation frameworks (normal in ecological production) and it facilitates the application of authorised treatments for pest control. The fruit, homogeneous and very attractive thanks to its well-defined stripes, has excellent internal quality: deep red flesh, tasty, very crunchy and with a high level of Brix.
Another of the launches is NUN 11501 WMW F1, a pollinator for early cycles (transplanting from December and January) “larger than Premium, but with identical internal quality”, consequently, it would be framed in the ‘midi’ sized fruits. In this case, the good opening of its flowers is worth mentioning, which encourages a greater pollinating capacity and its synchronisation with the triploid varieties. Also, according to Mercedes Fernández, a Watermelon Specialist, “it has a high pollen quality in early cycles, in spite of the great difference in temperature between daytime and night-time during the flowering dates”.
In the triploid segment, Nunhems® presented NUN 31226 WMW F1, launched commercially this year. Its size (between 4 and 6 kg) is slightly smaller than other conventional watermelons, therefore it is particularly good for export.
