Seminis is proud to support Australian melon and watermelon growers with high performing products, adapted to local conditions.

David Campbell, Market Development lead for Seminis in Australia also drives the local melon trialing program. Dave is committed to working with Bayer’s breeding teams and scouting overseas pipelines, to find the next big thing for Australian melon growers.

Flavour Journey is the first of Bayer’s long shelf life (LSL) honeydews. It starts sugar production early in the fruit development stage so when harvested consumer characteristics like taste are more likely to be achieved. The fact that it is LSL also allows some flexibility for growers and supply chain around harvesting schedules and transportation for example. 

“Flavor Journey is one example of how through utilising our defined breeding targets, we are focusing our efforts on the attributes local growers and consumers need, request and expect.

“We have clear goals when we are developing or screening varieties. These goals include enhanced shelf life, smaller and tighter seed cavities and darker, more attractive flesh colour. We are also seeking more defined picking indicators and disease resistances, including for powdery mildew and aphids,” David explains.

“Delivering a great consumer and grower experience is a key priority. Many years of trials occur before we decide to commercialise new varieties and we do that in close collaboration with melon growers. In addition, we try and understand what consumers think of our new varieties and run sensory tests to understand their taste preferences,” David says.