Feb 10, 2023

Syngenta melons with harvest indicator earn Fruit Logistica award

Syngenta Vegetable Seeds has received the Silver Fruit Logistica Innovation Award for the IDEAL Melons with the Harvest Indicator Trait.

This prestigious award recognizes innovation excellence in the fruit and vegetable industry and is open to nominees from companies around the world.

“We are thrilled to be the winner of the Fruit Logistica Innovation Silver Award 2023,” Jeremie Chabanis, value chain head of Europe, Africa and the Middle East, said in a news release. “It was great to see so many of our growers and customers from around the world during this event and winning is a great way to honor the scientists, researchers, and growers who are growing and improving our products every year.”

Technology in the rind

IDEAL Melons with the patent-pending Harvest Indicator Trait features a rind color change technology that indicates the ideal time to harvest, ship, stock and eat.

“We know that with previous Long Shelf Life (LSL) melons, there were challenges that impacted not only growers, but consumers’ perceptions of the fruit,” Bernie Hamel, value-added chain lead for the Americas, said in the release. “With Syngenta Vegetable Seeds new IDEAL Melon varieties with the Harvest Indicator Trait, we’re addressing those challenges to create melons that have improved taste, texture, and are more sustainable.”

The technology turns cantaloupe rinds from green to a golden straw color. This is an easy-to-see indication of time to harvest, meaning growers ship melons that are ripe and ready-to-eat. This ensures cantaloupe at stores will be at the peak of ripeness.

Syngenta at Fruit Logistica

Syngenta shared a variety of innovations and opportunities with Fruit Logistica visitors. In addition to IDEAL Melons, Syngenta Vegetable Seeds featured:

Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) Solutions. Syngenta was the first company to announce the discovery and later commercialize a tomato with resistance to ToBRFV in 2020, and continues to research new modes of action and expansion of current resistance mechanisms. At Fruit Logistica, tomato experts provided visitors with updates on research and tips for reducing the spread of the virus.

Technology at Tomato Vision. Syngenta’s premier greenhouse in Maasland, Netherlands, hosts research trials for tomatoes and peppers. The researchers are at the forefront of technology, with a harvesting robot and two unique AI trials. Visitors at Fruit Logistica got an inside view of what goes on at Tomato Vision, and what researchers think of these new technologies.

SolidRib and Krispice Lettuce. Syngenta protects lettuce quality with disease resistance, hearty leaves that are able to withstand shipping and handling, and storability. SolidRib and Krispice experts were on-hand at Fruit Logistica to introduce visitors to the benefits they bring to growers.

Learn more about Syngenta’s total vegetable and fruit crop portfolios by visiting www.syngentavegetables.com or on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube at Syngenta Vegetable Seeds.

Photos: Syngenta Vegetable Seeds