"The ever-increasing varietal offer of pumpkins responds to market demands, starting with the needs of the growers and reaching those of the distribution and processing industries: each type has its specific use, thus maximising the value of production," explains Samuele Pellegrini, General Manager of Levantia Seed.
The market for high-quality pumpkins is more oriented toward kabocha, butternut, and other specific varieties. Thus, Levantia Seed aims its varietal development goals towards an increasingly segmented proposal, as testified by the new additions to the Italian seed company's latest catalogue.
© Levantia Seed SrlDulcistore
As well as being the core of Levantia Seed's offer, Kabocha pumpkins, i.e., those with a dark green skin, orange flesh, and high organoleptic qualities, are the most popular for the fresh market.
"Dulcimaks F1 is the queen of the Levantia Seed basket. We like to say that it is the variety that brings the whole chain together. It is a very productive plant, easy to grow, with very heavy (2.3-2.8 kg) and homogeneous fruits. The pulp is sweet and soft, so it wins over consumers."
Levantia Seed's kabocha pumpkins are sunburn resistant, so they thrive even in high temperatures and guarantee yields.
Dulcistore F1 stands out among the recently added varieties. It boasts one of the longest shelf lives in its category: the aesthetic and flesh characteristics (sweet and dry) are maintained for a long time, thus extending the product's marketing window."
© Levantia Seed SrlKG84
"Among the new entries in the 2025 Pumpkin Catalogue, we find KG84 F1: a semi-bush plant with fruits protected by foliage, suitable for colder periods and perfect for early or late production. Then there is KG65 F1, characterised by its harmonious shape and superior sweetness, a feature that is highly appreciated by consumers."
The growth of the pumpkin market has led to a rise in the expectations of consumers and H&R professionals. High-quality pumpkins are moving out of the niche, and Levantia Seed has bet on two varieties: Vanity and Reddy, two flagship products of the seed company that are also protected by a registered trademark.
"With Reddy, growers have an early, very productive variety with a compact plant: this means that yields per hectare are really interesting. Its appearance, characterized by bright orange-red skin, is very attractive. The flesh is soft, very sweet and with a pleasant nutty flavour. Plus, these characteristics combine with an excellent shelf life."
Vanity is the gray-skinned variety of Levantia Seed. Orange flesh, extra-dry (very dry) and with a very pleasant chestnut flavour. "It is a mainstay of the premium segment and has several advantages in the fields: plants are vigorous and very productive and, thanks to the grey colour of the skin, they are not prone to scalding and splitting."
© Levantia Seed SrlVanity
Hambra F1 is the new butternut squash from Levantia Seed, boasting good productivity and high post-harvest standards. It is ideal for the fresh-cut and processing industries, as well as for the fresh markets.
"In our varietal development work, we focused on the demands of processors and growers, who had repeatedly pointed out to us the need for a butternut variety that was suitable for peeling and processing, but which could also cover the fresh market when other varieties were no longer available. With Hambra F1, we have succeeded in achieving this goal by providing producers with fruits resistant to cracking, the industry with fruits that can be processed easily and with minimum waste thanks to their reduced placental cavity, and consumers with a product with a firm, good flesh."
For more information:
Levantia Seed Srl
Via Luigi Savoia 18/B
45014 Porto Viro (RO) - Italy
+39 335 5662226
+39 342 1635715
info@levantiaseed.it
www.levantiaseed.it