New Tools To Guide Harvesting Long Shelflife Melons

With the introduction of several new long-shelf-life (LSL) melon varieties, Sakata Seed offfers two new tools for melon growers across the U.S. The creation of a LSL melon Harvest Stages Chart, along with the production of a short “how-to” video, educates viewers on the proper phase to harvest Sakata’s LSL melons.

Zachary Wortiska, area sales manager for SJV/Bakersfield and assistant melon product manager for Sakata Seed America.

Zachary Wortiska, area sales manager for SJV/Bakersfield and assistant melon product manager for Sakata Seed America.

Growers will be able to use the video and chart to understand the right time to harvest and deliver marketable LSL melons to their customers. While the video narrows its focus on identifying the optimal harvest stages for individual customer needs, the melon chart also includes an extensive at-a-glance look into multiple Sakata melon characteristics of not only LSL varieties, but those of Eastern and Western shippers, as well.

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Two of the LSL varieties Sakata has recently presented include Infinite Gold and Timeless Gold. These LSL melons have been bred for firm flesh and long shelf life, without sacrificing flavor and fruit quality. LSL characteristics allow growers to have more flexibility when it comes to harvest timing (i.e. when weather permits), as market prices rise, or as labor is more available. Also, melons that have good holding ability stand up to long-distance shipping, so consumers around the country will still receive melons with excellent firmness and flavor.

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A third-party sensory analysis panel rated Infinite Gold higher in flavor and quality attributes than the leading competition.

“Infinite Gold was bred to provide quality, firmness and flavor to the grower, retailer, and all the way down to the consumer,” Zachary Wortiska, Area Sales Manager-SJV/Bakersfield and assistant melon product manager said. “Sakata is focused on supporting the industry with helpful tools and information, like the sensory analysis and the harvest video and chart. These tools provide another resource to ensure melon grower success.”

For more information regarding the third-party sensory analysis, please download the Sakata Melon Bulletin here.

Source: Sakata Seed America news release

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