Israeli dwarf melons with edible skin: a new innovation on the European market

The Israeli company Superfruiter has an ambitious plan to introduce dwarf melons with edible skin to the European market. This new type of melon, weighing up to 800 grams, is made possible by a patented genetic modification process called Gen Superfruiter. According to FreshPlaza, the first trials of mini-melons have already begun in the provinces of Almeria and Murcia, and the company plans to expand its operations to Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha.

Melons are currently grown on more than 1.3 million hectares worldwide, and the Israeli company sees great opportunities in the Spanish market, despite the recent decline in production that has lowered Spain's position to third place among melon producers in the world.

The mini-melon research is supported by the Volcani Institute for Agricultural Research in Israel. The main goal of this project is to bring innovative fruits to the market and promote sustainable agricultural development, in particular by reducing water and fertilizer use by 30%.

Thanks to genetic selection, yellow melon plants will be able to produce up to 10 fruits weighing 0.5 kg each, which is a significant improvement over the usual 4 pieces of 1.2 kilograms.

Superfruiter is already actively negotiating with supermarket chains in the European Union and the UK, as well as with renowned chefs, to include these mini melons in their menus. The new products could become an important addition to the European market and open up new prospects for innovation in agriculture.