Firm Flesh Watermelons Give Consumers, Retailers More Options

Syngenta’s firm flesh watermelon varieties, Cato and Golden Crisp, are perhaps the most versatile melons on sale — they can be used for both fresh-cut and whole-melon markets. This is of course, in and of itself a benefit in that it gives growers options — but there’s an added benefit for consumers as well.  

“Cato and Golden Crisp provide innovative flesh firmness that can lead to less purge in the clamshells and they also hold a little bit better in the field,” Rebecca Wente-Naylor, product specialist at Syngenta, said. Whether consumers purchase the watermelons whole or freshly cut, they hold their crisp texture and sweet flavor longer, enabling crunchy munching, down to the last piece.  

The extended shelf life of firm-flesh watermelons helps to reduce food waste as well, helping to ensure only the rinds make it into the trash can. Because firm flesh watermelons maintain both their texture and flavor when sold as fresh-cut fruit or whole melons, that means a great combination of sweet taste and crisp mouthfeel.  

“Dual purpose watermelons provide an excellent eating experience and crisp texture, but also excellent flavor and sugar content,” Wente-Naylor said.

Both are seedless watermelons, meeting the mature demand for seedless products in North America and giving growers opportunities to diversify in regions where seedless is less common.

“The flavor of these watermelons is very good. Flavor is subjective and that has to do with the taste as well as texture. We enjoy the firm flesh melon because it retains its crispness and great watermelon flavor everyone loves,” Bernie Hamel, Value Chain Lead at Syngenta, said.  

• Cato, Syngenta’s latest offering in the firm flesh watermelon market, matures in 82 days and has high disease resistance to fusarium race 1 (Fon:1) and anthracnose race 1 (Co:1). It’s a seedless watermelon averaging between 13 and 18 pounds.  
• Golden Crisp, a yellow firm flesh watermelon variety, offers a fun twist on traditional melon. “As our population becomes more diverse, we have more diverse choices and colors,” Hamel said. “And it tastes great.” Similar to Cato, Golden Crisp has disease resistance to fusarium race 1 (Fon:1) and anthracnose race 1 (Co:1). It’s also a seedless watermelon but is slightly bigger than Cato, coming in between 14 and 20 pounds.  

Whether it's seeded or seedless, golden or red, or any other preferences, Syngenta is dedicated to the future of watermelon production. Learn more here.

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