Australia
August 20, 2026
Demand for watermelons is growing steadily, partly thanks to hot summers. The yellow varieties from Rijk Zwaan's seedless Tropical® range help growers to capitalise on this growth and set themselves apart with an eye-catching product. And according to Vincent van Wolferen, Crop Co-ordinator for Melon & Watermelon, this is easier than they might expect.
Dependable production
In terms of cultivation and performance, the Tropical range is very similar to red watermelons. "Tropic Sunshine has excellent fruit setting and dependable, uniform production. Additionally, consumers really like the fact that it is seedless. "Tropical Sunshine has an average fruit weight of between 5 and 6 kilos, depending on the cultivation method. Tropical Sunshine has a dark green 'sugar baby' rind. For retailers, it can be useful if their yellow watermelons are visually distinct from their standard red ones," explains Vincent.
Fresh, sweet flavour
One of the key strengths of Tropical Sunshine is its outstanding flavour. IT was awarded the highest rating of three stars by the International Taste & Quality Institute (ITQI) in Brussels. Even a foodie like Vincent is surprised by the flavour: "It's fresh and sweet – truly special. It's a perfect fit with red watermelon. Clients are very enthusiastic when they taste our yellow-fleshed varieties."
Market diversification
The yellow watermelons from the Tropical range offer growers a great opportunity to diversify their market, in close collaboration with retailers and Rijk Zwaan. "This is already happening in places such as North America, the United Kingdom and South Africa. Our yellow watermelons are adding a splash of colour to the category.
Tropical Sunshine RZ
TROPICAL SUNSHINE RZ F1 (62-599)
Watermelon | Sugar baby | Yellow-flesh | Seedless
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Species
