Rijk Zwaan Ibérica's new sweet, juicy, and flavorful orange-fleshed watermelon variety has won the Fresh Produce category at the 2024 Innovation Hub Awards. These awards recognize and celebrate research, development, and innovation efforts in the agri-food sector. The awards ceremony took place on Thursday, October 10 at Ifema's Fruit Forum.
Alberto Cuadrado, head of chain projects at Rijk Zwaan Ibérica, presented the candidacy before a jury made up of leading professionals in the sector, including Ana Díaz Pérez, deputy general director for Food Quality and Sustainability at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food; Alejandro Lorca Ruiz, deputy general director of Fruits, Vegetables, and Viticulture; Agustín Palma Barriga, deputy general director for Food Safety Management at the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN); Rubén Moratiel Yungueros, University lecturer and researcher at CEIGRAM - Department of Agricultural Production Phytotechnics - Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y Biosistemas - Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM); and Luis B. Martín Martín, technical director of FEPEX.
"Data indicates that consumption of traditional fruits among younger consumers is declining in favor of more modern fruits, such as berries or tropical fruits like mango, and it is in this trend that Sunglow is positioning itself to appeal to new consumers," Alberto Cuadrado stressed.
Orange Sunglow: a true feast of flavor!
Rijk Zwaan has developed a new fun and refreshing watermelon variety that offers a unique drinking experience. Its oval-shaped exterior and unusual skin color give it a distinctive character. Its deep orange interior offers exceptional versatility. Its crunchy and tasty texture makes it delicious to bite. In addition, its convenient size (between 2.5 and 3.5 kilos) adapts to new family consumption habits.
Local production
Orange Sunglow is a project that is limited in scope and area to Spain for now. The companies involved in the project are Pozo Sur, Única, Anecoop, Caparrós, and Jimbo Fresh.
For more information:
Rijk Zwaan
www.rijkzwaan.es