melons
Longtime melon shipper VP leaving post
Jim Malanca, melon grower Westside Produce’s longtime vice president of sales and marketing, is planning to leave his position. Westside Produce’s Jim Malanca, left, and Steve Patricio. Malanca, who was a... more »
IFPA vet to head National Watermelon Association
The National Watermelon Association (NWA) has hired produce industry veteran George Szczepanski as its new executive director. The appointment is scheduled to become effective on Feb. 26. Szczepanski’s experience... more »
Watermelon board to present consumer research
The National Watermelon Promotion Board will present its 2022 Watermelon Consumer Research Findings on Nov. 15. The NWPB and its consumer research partner, Aimpoint Research, will review consumers’ attitudes and awareness toward watermelon and compare... more »
Marvin Davis, south Texas produce vet, dies
Marvin Davis, the founder of Tex-Mex Sales LLC, of Weslaco, died Oct. 31. The longtime produce industry veteran worked other produce companies and founded Tex-Mex, a grower-shipper of onions, vegetables and melons. Davis, 84, passed... more »
New Syngenta melon includes harvest indicator
Syngenta Vegetable Seeds’ IDEAL Melon seed varieties are now widely available to growers in the U.S. and Central America. Syngenta’s newest innovation will provide consumers a portfolio that consistently deliver flavorful and aromatic fresh melons... more »
Watermelon board ramps up digital presence
This summer, National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) infused fresh online marketing trends into its consumer communications program to not only remain relevant but also thrive in today’s digital landscape. Recognizing that not all consumers need... more »
Grafting watermelons could boost yields for California growers
As growers across California navigate severe drought, supply-chain challenges and rising inflation, reducing inputs has become an existential necessity. And for watermelon growers, a new twist on a thousands-year-old practice is showing real promise. In... more »
Watermelon board focuses on the whole melon — rind included
This month, the National Watermelon Promotion Board launched its largest consumer-focused campaign of the year, Use the Whole Watermelon. The campaign is designed to focus on the... more »
$600K given for longer shelf life research
Hazel Technologies will continue its research into developing new shelf-life extension technologies for fresh produce after receiving a second round of federal funding. The Chicago-based company will receive a second phase of funding from the USDA... more »
New members appointed to National Watermelon Promotion Board
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed 13 members to the National Watermelon Promotion Board. Twelve members will serve three-year terms, which began on Jan. 1, and will end on Dec. 31, 2019. The new member... more »