What are the characteristics of Kisy, a new Spanish mini watermelon variety, and is it seedless?
Dutch vegetable breeding company Nunhem recently took part in the first fruit event of its parent company BASF. At the trade show, among other products, the watermelon variety Kisy was also promoted. It is a “personal-sized” watermelon weighing 600 to 900 grams.
“This Kisy watermelon is truly unique. There are other mini watermelons on the market. However, none of them have this format and these easy-to-eat properties,” says Hans Dreissen. Kisy is a seedless watermelon with a beautiful, thin, dark green skin. Its deep red flesh is very easy to eat. It also has a Brix level of 9 to 11.”
“Eating this seedless watermelon with a spoon is easy, just like eating an ice cream sundae. Its easy-to-eat properties also make it ideal for making watermelon cocktails. Therefore, we mainly focus on the catering industry. Here, we position this line as a cocktail melon,” Hans explains.
“In good weather, you have a melon that looks great. Therefore, people are prepared to pay more of a premium for this unique cocktail melon. At the same time, a Kisy variety has also been developed for the retail sector. Here, the focus is on a firm dark green skin. Its maximum Brix level is 12. This guarantees the sweetness needed for a wonderful eating experience. Hans concludes: “It is a healthy, thirst-quenching snack.
The watermelon weighs between 650 grams and 950 grams, has darker skin, red flesh and a Brix level of 10-11o. Kisy is a completely new concept because it is easy to peel and can be eaten in many different formats and situations.
“Kisy perfectly adapts to the new trend of healthy snacking, because its compact size makes it easy to buy and transport, and it has a long shelf life,” the company says. “It tastes great and is ideal for eating at home and away from home.”
The variety is grown in Spain between April and August and is currently sold in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the UAE.
